Nepal registers first same-sex marriage; ‘historical’, say activists

[1/2]Contributors participate in an annual LGBTQ+ Delight parade, in Kathmandu, Nepal June 10, 2023. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar/Document Picture Achieve Licensing RightsKATHMANDU, Nov 29 (Reuters) – (This tale has been corrected to mend  the connection with Taiwan in paragraph 9)Native government in a village in Nepal registered the Himalayan country’s first same-sex marriage on Wednesday, officers and activists mentioned, 5 months after the Superb Courtroom issued an intervening time order clearing the way in which for such marriages within the in large part conservative nation.The wedding between 36-year-old Ram Bahadur (Maya) Gurung, who was once born male however identifies as feminine, and Surendra Pandey, 26, who was once born and identifies as male, was once officially registered on the Dordi rural municipality place of job within the Lumjung district in west Nepal, an legit mentioned.”We’re each more than pleased. Like us, all others in our neighborhood are glad too,” Pandey mentioned in a telephone interview.The couple were in a courting for 9 years and were given married in line with Hindu rituals in 2016 within the capital Kathmandu.”We now have issued the wedding registration certificates to the couple in attention of the Superb Courtroom order and directions from related govt government,” mentioned Hem Raj Kafle, leader administrative officer of the Dordi rural municipality.In June, the rustic’s Superb Courtroom issued an intervening time order permitting same-sex {couples} to check in their marriages pending a last verdict.Sunil Babu Pant, founding father of the Blue Diamond Society, Nepal’s main homosexual rights organisation, mentioned it was once a victory for sexual and gender minorities who’ve lengthy demanded equivalent rights, together with popularity in their marriages.”It’s historical,” mentioned Pant, a former lawmaker, noting that it was once the primary such registration in South Asia. “It’s going to open the door for them to collectively open financial institution accounts, personal and switch belongings like simply some other {couples}.”Taiwan is the one different position to legalise same-sex marriage in Asia, the place societies stay in large part conservative.Hindu-majority Nepal has turn into more and more revolutionary since a decade-long Maoist insurgency led to 2006. Two years later, political events voted to abolish the 239-year-old Hindu monarchy, a key call for of the Maoists, whose leader commander is now high minister and main a coalition govt with the centrist Nepali Congress birthday celebration.Reporting by way of Gopal Sharma, enhancing by way of Shilpa Jamkhandikar and Richard ChangOur Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Agree with Rules. Achieve Licensing Rights, opens new tab

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