Bhutan, Asia
Bhutan is located in the Himalayas. It used to be one of the most isolated nations in the world, but developments including direct international flights, internet, mobile phone networks, and cable television have increasingly opened the doors. Yet, Bhutan has balanced modernization with its ancient culture and traditions under the guiding philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH). On 14 December 2005, the King announced that he would be abdicating immediately. Bhutan has now entered a new era of democracy, starting with its first national parliamentary elections in December 2007 and March 2008. Homosexuality is illegal in Bhutan in the penal code of Bhutan and is punishable with a prison sentence from between one month to one year. There are reportedly no known cases of anyone having ever been charged with this petty misdemeanor. Little is known about gay life in Bhutan, as Bhutanese culture does not share the typical western view of heterosexuality and homosexuality. Some people have even called it an openly bisexual society, though this is disputed.
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Bhutan, Asia
Name: Bhutan
Population: 2124000
Capital: Thimphu - Pop. 100000
Area: 47000 sq. km. / sq. miles.
Language: Dzongkha
Religion: Buddhism
Status of Homosexuality: Illegal (not enforced)
Telephone Country Code: 975
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| January 1st, 2009 | Comments Off
Introduction A story about ‘gay’ Bhutan is not much of a tale. There is no gay presence, no venues, no organizations. What little can be reported is only discerned from few anecdotes reported by observers who have lived in this small mountain country–and who are hesitant to tell all they know. Included here are three commentary/interviews by three ‘insiders’ who offer small windows of knowledge about Bhutan’s ‘open secret’ tradition of sacred and secular bi-sexuality. By Richard Ammon Updated July 2010 (Note about photos: these images were taken randomly from the Internet and no presumption is offered nor should any be taken regarding the sexual orientation of the persons pictured.) (1) Bhutan’s Tourist Image Flip open the Lonely Planet guide to Bhutan and read charming comments such as “nestling in the heart of the great Himalayas…for centuries remained aloof from the rest of the world… the environment is
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