Anu: A queer voice at the British Embassy
Anu, a 19-year-old trans man from Kalikot, stepped into the British Embassy for the #QueerTakeover, turning a single day into a powerful story of visibility, courage, hope, and the importance of representation for diverse communities. Let's hear his story in his own words.
“How many things can you name that have seven colours? A rainbow. A prism. A flag that carries pride and possibility. Every colour stands for something, just as every person carries their own meaning. That’s what I held close as I walked into the British Embassy on the first day of the 16 Days of Activism, stepping into the role of Pippa Bird, the Development Director at the British Embassy for the #QueerTakeover.
“I’m Anu, a 19-year-old trans man. My day began at Plan International Nepal with a short introductory meeting. In those 45 minutes, I found myself thinking back to my childhood and imagining the future I want to help shape.
“I shared how long it took me to understand who I was. Growing up in Kalikot was already tough. Growing up being seen as a girl when I knew that wasn’t my identity was something else entirely. I wanted to cut my hair short. I wanted to wear boys’ clothes. I wanted to play football, but I wasn’t even allowed to touch the ball.
“When Pippa listened and said she was proud of who I’ve become, I felt seen in a way my younger self never was.
“I also spoke about my first period, a moment that is usually celebrated for girls. For me, it felt like the opposite. I didn’t feel joy; I felt confusion and distress. That experience is one reason I now advocate for menstrual hygiene and transgender menstruation.
“I also spoke about my first period, a moment that is usually celebrated for girls. For me, it felt like the opposite. I didn’t feel joy; I felt confusion and distress.”
Anu, a Development Director for a day
“Alongside sharing, I listened. Pippa told me about the embassy’s development work and her own journey. I shared my research on LGBTIQA+ people working in hospitality and entertainment, documenting their stories and the gaps in legal protection. I hope that this research encourages Nepal to establish laws that recognise and protect them.
“Pippa said, ‘It was remarkable to see the Development Director role through Anu’s eyes. His perspective reminded me how essential it is to have a community that understands you.’
“It was remarkable to see the Development Director role through Anu’s eyes. His perspective reminded me how essential it is to have a community that understands you.”
Pippa Bird, Development Director, British Embassy
Speaking up during the 16 days of activism
“Later, I travelled with Pippa to the opening of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The room was full of ministers, diplomats, youth leaders, feminist activists, and LGBTIQA+ communities. Speakers talked about digital violence, the need for digital citizenship in classrooms, and the importance of continuing the movement beyond these 16 days.
“When it was my turn to speak, I felt the weight of the moment. I said clearly that I hadn’t heard anyone speak from a queer perspective. As someone who faces digital violence because of my identity, I wanted to know how cases affecting LGBTIQA+ people are recorded and followed up on. I also called on content creators to highlight the violence our community experiences.
“After the event, I returned to the embassy for lunch. Staff from different teams joined me. They told me about the projects running in my own district and the ongoing water, sanitation and hygiene work. They appreciated my advocacy on transgender menstruation. The warmth everyone showed made me feel welcomed in a way I didn’t expect.
“In an informal gathering afterwards, I spoke with the staff and the Ambassador. I said honestly that I hope to see more queer-friendly practices next time, like gender-neutral restrooms. I also mentioned that I didn’t see any staff from the queer community. Even so, I felt inspired enough to ask how someone like me could one day work here. Their encouragement stayed with me.”
Pippa reflected, “The day reinforced just how complex intersectionality is in Nepal. It has to be woven into our development approaches, and his experience strengthened that belief.”
She added, “Anu was brilliant, thoughtful, curious, and full of energy. He has a very bright future ahead of him. I hope the takeover supported him, even in a small way, on his journey.”
What the day meant for me
“Toward the end of the day, I joined a roundtable with the Ambassador, Pippa, and 5 young people with disabilities. I listened to stories about invisible disabilities, about living with cerebral palsy, about the layers of discrimination young people face. It opened my eyes even further to the ways identity, geography, disability, and gender all intersect.
“By the time the day ended, I realised the Takeover wasn’t only about stepping into a leadership role for a few hours. It was about stepping closer to something I rarely see: someone like me represented in a global institution. It gave me hope that systems and organisations can grow to reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
That’s the strongest lesson I’m taking with me: every story, including mine, can push the world a little closer to inclusion. And this was only the beginning.”
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