Nepal Registers First Same-Sex Marriage, Signifying LGBT Rights Triumph

(CTN News) – Advocates for LGBT rights celebrated Nepal’s first recorded same-sex marriage.

Wednesday saw the official registration of Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey’s marriage in the western Lumjung district. Gurung is 35 years old and Pandey is 27.

This decision was made five months after the Supreme Court issued an interim order permitting same-sex couples to register their marriages.

Other than Taiwan, no Asian country has decriminalized same-sex marriage.

The couple’s registration was a “big day” for all sexual minorities, according to Ms. Gurung, who spoke to the BBC.

Nepal’s Capital Initially Refuses Registration Despite Supreme Court Directive

Advocating for one’s rights is no picnic. It has been completed. She went on to say that it will be easier for generations to come. “The registration has opened doors to a lot of things for us.”

The pair had previously expressed an interest in establishing a joint bank account and dividing up the newly acquired property. However, once they have stabilized their finances, their greatest desire is to adopt a kid.

Their relationship spans over ten years. This year, the newlyweds sought official certification of their 2017 temple wedding.

Ms. Gurung has not had her gender altered on any official documents despite being a transsexual woman. Despite his gender identity, Mr. Pandey was born a man.

Despite a Supreme Court judgment directing the government to register such unions while new legislation is created, a district court in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, refused to do so on July 13th.

Since the order was only addressed to the government, the district court contended that subordinate courts were not obligated to comply.

Regarding the marriage registration certificate, Dordi Rural Municipality chief administrative officer Hem Raj Kafle told Reuters on Wednesday: “We have issued the certificate to the couple in consideration of the Supreme Court order and instructions from relevant government authorities.”

Sunil Babu Pant, a prominent figure in the fight for LGBT rights, hailed the event as a “historic” triumph for marginalized sexual and gender identities.

Just like any other couple, we can now legally record our marriage. He told the BBC that additional work was needed to get other rights.