they became short-tempered and 13.4 said they suffered from depression". Hormone replacement therapy and sex reassignment surgery are technically not available in Nepal, though some doctors may perform such procedures. However, they are reported to be "costly". Hormone replacement drugs cost 4,500 rupees for a six-month period. Many Nepali transgender people go to Thailand or India to undergo reassignment surgery. Tourism The Nepal Tourism Board has made plans to promote Nepal as an LGBT-friendly tourist destination. An LGBT tourism conference occurred in February 2010. Sensitivity training was conducted in selected catering and hospitality venues. Popular culture and media representation The representation of LGBT community in Nepali mainstream media is minimal. Historically, the portrayal of people of sexual and gender minorities had been in negative connotation or as a comic relief in films and television show. The queer representation have always been caricatures of transgender people, gay people, and lesbians and stereotypical. However, there have been some positive and realistic depictions in recent times.Highway, a 2012 film by Deepak Rauniyar featured a gay character and a transgender character who is a victim of sexual violence. Soongava: Dance of the Orchids, a 2012 movie was about a lesbian relationship. Actresses Diya Maskey and Nisha Adhikari played the lead roles. The film was also selected as the Nepalese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. However, the film has been criticized for its story and cishet male gaze. Singha Durbar, a 2016 fictional television series by Tsering Rhitar Sherpa about first female prime minister featured a gay character, Bishwa Bishwokarma, press secretary to the PM played by Praween Khatiwada. The television show was broadcast on Nepal Television, the state broadcaster of Nepal. The series was supported by USAID. Prabal Gurung, a Nepali American fashion designer, is openly gay. Gurung has designed for popular media icons and personalities such as Michelle Obama, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Oprah Winfrey. Between Queens and the Cities, the first queer memoir from Nepal by Niranjan Kunwar was published on 5 December 2020. The book chronicles the life of the author as a gay man in different cities such as New York and Kathmandu. The book also shows the struggles of a gay man in Nepali society. In June 2021, an art exhibition with LGBTIQ theme, Queer — A celebration of art and activism was organized in Kaalo.101, an