Nepal's trans folk sure are optimistic.

Dozens gathered in Kathmandu yesterday in an effort to gain official recognition before November 22nd's national election. Parliamentarians who gain seats will help rewrite the Asian nation's new Democratic constitution - and trannies want a piece of the political pie.

Sunil Pant of Blue Diamond Society - the country's only queer group - said:

As the constituent assembly elections approach we want proper representation in the assembly that is going to shape the future of the nation. There are no voters lists of third gender people and this is a very worrying situation for us.

While we're cheering for you, Pant, we're not sure the government's going to heed your call for equality. They did, after all, tell AIDS outreach workers to "find something better to do". And, of course, there's that whole "lesbian" soldier debacle. Oh, and there's always that time cops beat trans folk simply for carrying condoms.

But, you know what they say, "think positive".