Nepal makes history as first South Asian nation to formally register same-sex marriage
Nepal officially records its inaugural same-sex marriage five months after it was legalized by the Supreme Court. As reported by PTI, 35-year-old trans-woman Maya Gurung and 27-year-old gay man Surendra Pandey legally married at Dordi Rural Municipality in the Lamjung district of Western Nepal, as confirmed by Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), the president of Blue Diamond Society—an organization dedicated to the rights and well-being of sexual minorities in Nepal.
Also Read: Same-Sex Marriage Verdict: ‘Gender of a person is not same as their sexuality,’ says CJI. Top 10 points This makes Nepal, the first in South Asia to formally recognize and register a same-sex marriage following the Supreme Court's decision.
In 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court had already granted permission for same-sex marriage, a stance further reinforced by the 2015 constitution, explicitly prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Also Read: Same-Sex Marriage Verdict: SC refuses to give marriage equality rights to LGBTQIA+ community in India However, on June 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order, prompted by a writ petition led by individuals, including Gurung, to officially legalize same-sex marriage in Nepal.
Despite this groundbreaking decision, the Kathmandu District Court rejected the move four months ago, citing the absence of requisite legal frameworks. PTI reported that Surendra Pandey and Maya’s marriage application was rejected at that time.
“It’s a great pleasure to learn about this, it is a great achievement for us, the third gender community of Nepal," Pinky told PTI. “This is the first case not only in Nepal but also in the whole of South Asia, and we welcome the decision." Surendra, hailing from Nawalparasi district,
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