CARNAL NATION

In May 2010, the tiny nation of Nepal, nestled in the Himalayas, will have a new constitution, which will grant same-sex couples the right to marry. Ahead of this historic achievement, the Nepalese gay community will host a conference on how to bring gay tourist dollars into the country's coffers. Sunil Babu Pant, leader of Nepal's gay rights movement and the only only openly gay elected member of parliament in Asia, has formed a company, Pink Mountain Travels and Tours, to capitalize on the rights guaranteed by the new constitution.

"Most Asian countries don't welcome gay visitors, so we can have the maximum benefit for the Nepal economy, which is fragile after years of war," said Mr. Pant. His company will offer various wedding packages to international gays and lesbians, including bridal processions atop elelphants and base camp weddings on the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest. The Nepalese goverment seems to be welcoming this heretofore untapped economic resource. Last October, the Minister of Tourism even wrote a welcome statement for the International Conference on Gay and Lesbian Tourism held in Boston, MA. "The government is hoping to increase the number of tourists from 400,000 to one million next year and has taken a positive attitude to welcoming gay and lesbian visitors to help meet their ambitious target," added Mr. Pant. One lesbian couple from the United States has already booked a wedding package for later this year after the new laws go into effect.