KATHMANDU: In a historic move, authorities in the western Lamjung district formally recognized the marriage of Maya Gurung, 35, and Surendra Pandey, 27, on Wednesday, marking Nepal’s first registered same-sex marriage.
This development follows a significant interim order from the Supreme Court, issued five months ago, permitting same-sex couples to officially register their marriages.
The couple, who have shared almost a decade together, initially married in a temple ceremony in 2017. Their pursuit for legal recognition gained momentum this year, leading to the groundbreaking registration. Notably, Taiwan stands as the only other location in Asia where same-sex marriage is legalized.
Ms Gurung told the BBC that their registration was a “big day” not just for the couple, but all sexual minorities.
“The fight for rights is not easy. We have done it. And it will be easier for future generations,” she said. “The registration has opened doors to a lot of things for us.”
Maya Gurung, a transgender woman, retains her original gender on official documents, while Surendra Pandey, born and identifying as male, successfully formalized their union through official registration.
The journey to this landmark moment faced obstacles when, on July 13, a district court in Kathmandu declined to register their marriage, citing a perceived lack of obligation to follow the Supreme Court’s order, as it was directed solely at the government. However, the persistence of the couple and the subsequent official registration now set a precedent for equal recognition and rights for same-sex couples in Nepal.
(With inputs from BBC)
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