Nepal has achieved a historic milestone by officially registering its first same-sex marriage, making it the inaugural South Asian nation to do so.
The couple, Ram Bahadur (Maya) Gurung, a 36-year-old transgender female, and Surendra Pandey, a 26-year-old male, obtained certification for their marriage at the Dordi rural municipality office in western Nepal.
Despite being in a nine-year relationship and having a Hindu ceremony in 2016, the couple faced challenges in obtaining legal recognition.
Recent changes by the Home Ministry now allow all local administration offices to register same-sex marriages, marking a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights.
Leading activist Sunil Pant described it as a “historic achievement” and emphasized the newfound equal rights for sexual and gender minorities in the country.
The couple, expressing their joy, highlighted the positive impact on their community, while Mr. Pant noted that they would now enjoy the same rights as any other married couple, such as joint ownership of property and the ability to open bank accounts together.
Nepal’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ issues has evolved in the post-Maoist insurgency era, with the country also recognizing a “third gender” option on official documents.
Currently, Taiwan stands as the only other Asian country to have legalized same-sex marriage.
