SOCIETIAL ATTITUDES AND CHALLENGES FACED BY LGBT PEOPLE OF BHUTAN

Abstract

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. This term describe people’s sexual orientation and gender identity. Officially the concept of LGBT in Bhutan started in early 2010 where not much research has been done. It is still obscure and a lack information exists among the Bhutanese people. Thus to fill this research gap we conducted the study as a contribution to the existing literature. In addition, we did an in-depth face to face interview with some of the LGBT people. In our research, we contacted an organization called Lhak- Sam who supports LGBT to gather more information regarding the LGBT like the total number of LGBT officially registered under them. Around 118 LGBT are registered in that organization. Due to privacy concerns and less attention from the society, there is not much reliable research done on this topic. Through this research we found that many people still lack knowledge and information about LGBT people. This may have been because of less visibility of LGBT people as we have found through our research that many LGBT people still fear opening up due to the stigmatization and the discrimination by society and family.