Transgender Nepalese aims to climb Mt Everest

A 35-year-old transgender today announced her plans to be the first from the community in Nepal to scale Mt Everest, world's highest peak, soon.
Manoj Shahi Monika told reporters she wanted to be the first transgender to climb the iconic peak for her country and the entire community she belonged to.
"My mission is not only about making myself known to the world. It is also for the sake of my country and all LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) community people throughout the world," she said at an event organised by Blue Diamond Society, an organisation fighting for the rights of sexual minorities.

"I will flutter the national flag along with a Blue Diamond Society banner and make it to the Guinness Book of Records" she said.
Monika maintained that she was mentally and physically prepared to climb the top mountain.
BDS President Pinky Gurung expressed hope that the government will help Monika in her endeavour.
"I still remember those tough times when we used to gather in and around the Ratnapark open ground in the capital in the dusk," Gurung said.
"But, now we have an organisation, which works for our rights. Our issues have been raised in the Parliament and we will get our rights gradually," Gurung added.