KATHMANDU, Nepal On Wednesday, an LGBTQ couple in Nepal obtained formal same-sex marriage status, making them the first in the country to do so. One of the first countries in Asia to permit it is the Himalayan region.
Leading LGBTQ rights activist and openly gay
former MP Sunil Babu Pant stated, “After 23 years of struggle we got this historic achievement, and finally Maya and Surendra got their marriage registered at the local administration office.”
Pant was there at the Dorje village council office, which is situated in the highlands west of Kathmandu when Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung registered their marriage.LGBTQ
Human Rights Watch claims that Pandey is a cisgender guy and Gurung is a transgender woman who is legally recognized as male in the nation.
The Nepalese Supreme Court granted an interim decision earlier this year that permits same-sex weddings to be registered for the first time.LGBTQ
At first, the marriage was not registered by the officials. The couple and Pant filed lawsuits with the High Court and District Court of Kathmandu; nevertheless, their arguments were denied.
Pant claims that this week, the Home Ministry changed the procedure so that same-sex weddings may be registered at all local administrative offices.
From the hamlet where the couple was supposed to celebrate later on Wednesday, Pant remarked over the phone, “It was quite unexpected and it was a positive breeze for us.”LGBTQ
Six years ago, the pair tied the knot at a Hindu temple surrounded by friends and family, with a priest officiating the ceremonies. However, they lacked a proper marriage certificate.
Nepal has seen significant changes after the government was directed to make adjustments in support of LGBTQ individuals by a 2007 court ruling. It is now possible for individuals who do not identify as either male or female to choose “third gender” on passports and other official papers. The 2015 constitution also makes it clear that sexual orientation cannot be a reason for discrimination.LGBTQ
