Historic: In Nepal, Same-Sex Couple Officially Registered Their Marriage

Nepal has become the first Asian nation to allow the registry of same-sex marriages. A gay couple in Nepal on Wednesday got their same-sex marriage registered.

However, any legislation on this behalf has not been drawn up, but the judiciary passed an interim order in pursuit of enabling the registration of same-sex marriage.

The marriage, however, got temporarily registered, but once the legislature introduces a statute, it will be permanently registered.

Maya Gurung, 35, and Surendra Pandey, 27– both born male– successfully registered their marriage at Dordi Rural Municipality of Lamjung district, situated in the western foothills of the capital- Kathmandu.

“After 23 years of struggle we got this historic achievement, and finally Maya and Surendra got their marriage registered at the local administration office,” said Sunil Babu Pant, an openly gay ex-parliamentarian, and LGBTQ+ rights activist.

Mr. Pant accompanied Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung during the registration of the marriage.

A Historical Development:

In 2007, Nepal’s Supreme Court favored allowing same-sex marriage in one of its decisions. It directed the government to make policy changes conducive to LGBTQ+ people. It paved the way for people who do not identify as female or male to choose “third gender” on their passports and other government IDs.

At the same time, it finds its constitutional validity since the principle of equality is enshrined therein. Nepal’s constitution, adopted in 2015, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

On June 27, this year, the Himalayan nation’s Supreme Court passed an interim order in a writ petition filed by multiple plaintiffs, including Gurung, enabling registration of marriages of same-sex couples.

Despite the apex court’s decision, officials had initially refused to register the couple’s marriage. The couple and Mr. Pant knocked on Kathmandu District Court and High Court doors in this regard, but their plaint was rejected.

According to Mr. Pant, the Home Ministry changed procedural rules enabling all local administration offices to register same-sex marriages.

“It was quite unexpected, and it was a positive breeze for us,” Mr Pant said, quoted by AP.

The change in events gave legal sanctity to the couple’s marriage which they performed six years ago at a Hindu temple.