GLOBAL COCKTAILS

As we've mentioned before, Nepal really wants those pink dollars — they are encouraging gay honeymooners to trek through the Himalayas. The tourism board even wants to host "the world's highest same-sex wedding" at the Everest base camp. Promoting gay tourism in the South Asian country is a drastic change from the way the conservative, Hindu nation once treated LGBT individuals. Five years ago, police beat gay and transgender individuals in the street. Many are skeptical of the motives behind their push for gay travelers. With tourism as a major contributor to the country's economy, it makes sense for them to tap into the pink dollar. But are we being fooled into spending our money in a country that really only sees LGBT people as cash points?

I think this quote from Aditya Baral, spokesman for the Nepal Tourism Board represents the problem with their push, "They do have a lot of income ... they are high-spending consumers. If they behave well, if they have money, we don't discriminate." [SF Examiner]