Nepal: On November 29, 2023, Nepal registered its first same-sex marriage.
photo: TKP
Maya Gurung, a transgender
woman who has not changed her gender on official documents, and Surendra
Pandey, born and identified as male, officially registered the union in
Lamjung.
It came five months after the
Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing same-sex couples to register
their marriages, which activists hailed as a victory for LGBTIQA+ rights.
Same-sex marriage has been legalised in Taiwan, making it unique in Asia
alongside Nepal.
Since then, a series of
notable events have followed.
In February last year, Anju
Devi Shrestha (Dipti) and Suprita Gurung tied the knot to become the first
lesbian couple in Nepal.
Also, 2024 saw an array of
queer events such as Mr Gay Nepal, Miss Pink,( Miss Pink Nepal 2024, which was
organised in celebration of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia,
and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), concluded Thursday at Rastriya Naach Ghar, Jamal.
Blue Diamond Society (BDS)
organised the event in collaboration with Right Here Right Now (RHRN) and AIDS
Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nepal.
Three of the 18 final
participants were crowned at the event. Anmol Rai was crowned Miss Pink Nepal
2024, while Sarosy Neupane and Aarohi Basnet secured second and third
positions, respectively.
BDS President Pinky Gurung
shared that the Blue Diamond Society has been organising the Miss Pink program
since 2007, and the recent event was its seventh iteration. However,
maintaining regularity has been challenging due to difficulties in garnering
stakeholder support.
Gurung pointed out that the
LGBTQIA+ community often remains hidden due to societal stigma and stereotypes,
leading many individuals to refrain from exposing their identities and
participating in the event. Despite this, over three dozen participants applied
for the competition, this time from across Nepal, with 18 being selected.
Peter Rai, a transgender
woman in BDS, said, “No matter who wins from eighteen participants, nobody will
lose in terms of representation of the community, all will be winners”.
Anmol will represent Nepal in
the Miss International Queen 2024 pageant, which will be held in August in
Thailand, and will work as an ambassador of BDS for a year.
Gurung emphasised, “Miss Pink
is the celebration of diversity and empowerment, providing an opportunity for
the LGBTQIA+ community to shine and prove their capabilities. It promises hope
for strength and resilience regardless of gender identity.”
) and Drag Show for
Visibility(On June 21, 2024, as the sun lingered in the sky on the longest day
of the year, the Hard Rock Cafe in Durbarmarg shined with ‘loud and proud’
performances for the second season of ‘Drag Show for Visibility’.
Ajay Gurung, the event’s
emcee, set a spirited tone by saying, “Happy Pride. Be loud, be proud, be you because
nothing feels like home more than when you express yourself loudly and
proudly.”
And nothing could be more
true. Loud and proud—that was the ultimate energy at Hard Rock Cafe.
The event featured energetic
pop performances to soothing classical pieces, dramatic lip-sync battles, and
an enthusiastic audience that filled the bar and lounge areas, with many
dancing on chairs.
The atmosphere was wild,
vibrant, and joyful, with the spirit of pride palpable throughout the night.
Even the staff and security at Hard Rock Cafe couldn’t resist joining in,
jamming to the beat as they worked.
It was a night of drag,
drama, pride, and, most importantly, the celebration of the undeniable sense of
community.
A drag show is a performance
where individuals, often known as drag queens or kings, dress in exaggerated
costumes and makeup to entertain. These performances can include singing,
dancing, lip-syncing, and comedy. Drag is an art form that challenges
traditional gender roles and celebrates self-expression, regardless of the
performer’s gender identity.
The modern drag scene in
Nepal is relatively new. The first-ever official drag show was held in June
2019 at Pink Tiffany, the country's first LGBTI-friendly restaurant.
American artists headlined
this show, but Meghna Lama, the restaurant’s then-owner, hoped it would allow
Nepali drag enthusiasts to take the stage.
But there were small and
discreet events before 2019. According to Executive Director of Blue Diamond
Society (BDS) Manisha Dhakal, BDS discreetly organised a drag show at Vaishali
Hotel in Thamel in 2001.
“We didn’t have a safe space
at the time, so the drag show was organised discreetly. At the time, we
rehearsed and prepared at the house of Umisha Pandey (one of the founders and
current vice president) because of the lack of safe space.”
Fast-forward to 2024, and
there has been a notable rise in the number of drag shows where Nepali artists
are now the main attraction.
The inaugural season of ‘Drag
Show for Visibility’ took place on June 16, 2023. Organised by BDS and
supported by Save the Children and Plan International Nepal, in collaboration
with Hard Rock Cafe Kathmandu and Kaleidoscope Production, the second season
featured a diverse lineup of local and national drag artists.
Each performer portrayed
inclusivity, empowerment, and authenticity through their performances. They
entertained and educated the audience by challenging societal norms and
perceptions about gender and sexual identity.
The judging panel featured
Sophiya Bhujel, Miss Universe Nepal 2022; Divinish (Anish Tamang), Nepal’s
pioneering body painter; and Aniee Lama, a transgender woman and winner of Miss
Pink 2016.
Following auditions on June
9, which attracted over 20 participants, six finalists—Angelina Amber,
Momolicca, Kohinoor, Rickysis, Shine, and Queen of Lady—were selected for the
grand finale.
CEO of Kaleidoscope
Production, Pranaya Ratna Shakya, emphasised the importance of inclusivity in
drag, stating, “Our goal was to ensure a fair and excellent show, and I believe
everyone witnessed that. We’ve received tremendous support from the community.
Drag is more than just about gender identity—it’s a celebration of performing
arts.”
The top five contestants of
the ‘Drag Show for Visibility’. Photos:
Courtesy of Blue Diamond Society
He added, “This time, we
didn’t categorise performers as drag queens or kings; instead, we embraced all
drag performers. It’s a platform where individuals can express themselves
freely and authentically.”
Bhujel, who attended the
event for the second time, having been a special guest last year and a judge
this year, shared, “I loved the event last year, and I loved it this year as
well because I think this shows my support as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community.”
She also highlighted the
impact of increased drag events in Nepal this year, which resulted in fewer
contestants than last year.
Bhujel opined, “Events like
these are crucial for the LGBTQIA+ community because they face many hurdles
that straight people may not fully understand. It’s not just about the drag
show; any event showing allyship matters. Posting on social media isn’t
sufficient—we must be physically present to demonstrate our support and
solidarity.”
Shine, the first runner-up
reiterated the importance of organising more events like these for visibility,
where everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality, can participate. She praised
the absence of gender criteria this year as an important step towards inclusivity,
emphasising that for her, everyone is simply human.
After the victory, Momolicca
shared, “Drag is my proud career, and I'm committed to promoting this art form
and encouraging more people to participate. I look forward to continuing my
journey in performing this art.”
Momolicca, also known as
Aayam Poudel, co-founded Queermandu, Nepal’s first gay-owned tour company. The
recipient of the fifty thousand prize money, addressing whether drag is
exclusively for the urban LGBTQIA+ community, commented, “I don’t think so.
Even in my performance today, there was a rural flavour.”
“Nepal is rich in cultures
and diversity, so Nepali drag should reflect these various flavours, including
rural elements. It’s essential to incorporate this diversity in future drag
shows. There’s no drag without embracing Nepalipan,” Momolicca added.
The evening was a mix of
drag, drama, and pride, highlighting the importance of visibility and
acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community in Nepal. As drag culture continues to
grow, it brings with it a powerful message of inclusivity and self-expression,
crucial not only for Pride Month but for creating a more inclusive society
year-round.
), emphasising the growing
safe spaces for the queer community.
Nepal also hosted its first
international LGBTIQ or Pink Tourism Conference (Nepal on Saturday hosted the
first international LGBTIQ tourism conference. It wants a chunk of the
multi-billion dollar pink market after the stunning success of a legally
recognised same-sex marriage last November.
“Forget Nepal’s biased
history. Now, we aim at building more just and equitable societies. Let the
lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ) get equal economic
opportunity,” said Sunil Babu Pant, the first openly gay former parliamentarian
in Asia, addressing the conference in Kathmandu.
Just a few years back, police
beating gay and transgender individuals in the streets used to be a common
sight.
“After fighting legal battles
for nearly two decades, the law and the society have accepted the LGBTIQ
community. Now we are in the second phase—we need equal economic opportunities.
For this we need to bring LGBTIQ tourists from the global market.”
The conference was announced
following the successful marriage registration of Surendra Pandey and Maya
Gurung, the first same-sex couple to get legally recognised in Nepal, on
November 29, 2023, after a years-long legal wrangling.
This interim arrangement
remains valid until the legal provisions are made.
Their legally recognised
same-sex marriage is the first of its kind in South Asia and marks a milestone for
LGBTIQ rights.
“It is a privilege to stand
before you and reflect on a pivotal moment in my career, one that underscores
the importance of justice, equality, and the pursuit of human rights,” said
Supreme Court Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal, who in 2007 as a lawyer argued in
favour of laws guaranteeing full rights of LGBTIQ people and in defining gender
minorities as “natural persons” under the law. They had the right to marry, he
argued.
Eventually, in December 2007,
the court issued a historic verdict ensuring the rights of the community.
The verdict reads: “No one
has the right to question how two adults perform sexual intercourse and whether
this intercourse is natural or unnatural and that … the way the right to
privacy is secured to two heterosexual individuals in sexual intercourse, it is
equally secured to the people of third gender who have a different gender
identity and sexual orientation.”
“In 2007, I found myself
entrusted with a case… by Sunil Babu Pant that would leave an indelible mark on
my journey. At the helm of Blue Diamond Society, Sunil brought forth a case
that demanded not just representation, but a profound understanding of the
struggle faced by the LGBTIQ community,” said Phuyal.
“Admittedly, my initial
knowledge was limited on the issue, but through dedicated learning and
unwavering commitment, I found the confidence to evoke it, and here we have it.
The outcome, a resounding decision of the Supreme Court, stands as a backbone
of hope and progress not only for Nepal but the world at large.
“We recognise that the civil
and political rights are fundamental, but so are economic, social and cultural
rights.”
He said that “rainbow
tourism” not only promises economic growth but presents an opportunity to
foster inclusion and empowerment in the LGBTIQ community. “By integrating them
into the national economy, we not only create employment opportunities but also
contribute to the overall prosperity of our nation.”
He stressed that the decision
made by Nepal’s Supreme Court is a precedent for other countries, including the
neighbours.
Diane Anderson-Minshall, CEO
and chief storyteller of GO Magazine, in her presentation titled ‘LGBTI Tourism
Global Overview and its Contribution to the Economy’, said that LGBTIQ or pink
tourism are the segments of travellers that have a lot of wealth and purchasing
power.
According to her, based on
the Wealth and Travel Data Report of LGBT Capital 2023, the global annual
spending power of LGBTIQ consumers is $4.7 trillion. Among them, the Americans
have a spending capacity of $1.4 trillion, followed by the Chinese at $872
billion, Germans at $224 billion, Indians at $168 billion and the British at
$164 billion.
China is an untapped market and
that’s going to grow over the next several years. “And one of the things that
we know from Chinese gay travellers is they are looking for places they feel
safe, where they can hold hands and where they can have new experiences.”
And those are things they'll
find in Nepal, said Anderson-Minshall. Germany and the UK are the LGBTIQ
capitals.
Participants of Nepal’s first
international LGBTIQ tourism conference held in Kathmandu on Saturday. Post Photo
Nandini Lahe-Thapa, director
of the Nepal Tourism Board, said, “For Nepal’s tourism industry, the LGBTIQ
conference is a triumph as this is one of the most important market segments
that we have yet to tap.”
To attract more tourists to
spend more and stay longer, Nepal is following the principle of ‘tourism for
all and the power for all seasons and all reasons’, said Lahe-Thapa. “And so we
are very proud to partner with the first-ever Rainbow Tourism International
Conferences.”
People choose to travel to
places where they feel safe, respected and can be themselves.
“People might feel
uncomfortable sharing their identity and choices if the place and the people
are judgmental and unfriendly. Here we have an advantage as a destination,”
said Lahe-Thapa.
Nepal Tourism Board and the
travel trade fraternity plan to capitalise on the potential of the pink
community worldwide and have started investing in creating a more friendly and
enabled environment to foster such tourism. Last year, the board organised a trekking
guide training for 25 individuals from the LGBTIQ community.
According to Pant, now there
are several businesses owned by members of the LGBTIQ communities—with at least
two dozen bars, restaurants, travel and tour operators and hotels in Kathmandu.
“Businesses are opening up for the queer and that’s a good sign. We can promote
Nepal as a same-sex marriage and honeymoon destination.”
Nepal’s diverse culture
includes rich LGBTIQ-related traditions. Exploring the country’s festivals,
temples, symbols, rituals and stories, such as the concept of Ajima and the
recognition of six genders, offers a unique cultural experience.
Pant said that they have
launched a ‘tantra heritage tour’ that provides an in-depth exploration of
Nepal's culture and spiritual aspects, including those related to matriarchy
and LGBTIQ communities.
The pink community worldwide
opens up a new segment of valuable visitors for Nepal.
Veronique Lorenzo, the EU
ambassador to Nepal, said, “For Nepal, this is the first of many happy journeys.
I think this conference can play an important role in supporting Nepal’s
economy and helping the LGBTIQ community with jobs and recognition. There's an
array of benefits from this tourism segment.”
“Nepal is a success story.
It's the second country in Asia to have have registered same-sex marriage. Of
course, there's still a lot of progress to be made. The fight has to go on
every day to bring the legislative and legal frameworks in line with the
evolution of society.”
“It's not just about the pink
money, it's also about promoting inclusiveness and being fair to travellers.” )
in April, positioning itself as a hub for the multi-billion-dollar pink market.
With these developments,
rights activists say there are plenty of reasons to laud Nepal for its
influence on the global LGBTIQA+ rights movement.
Despite these positive
changes, the struggle for equality continues.
“The marriage registration is
a temporary arrangement for queer couples who have waited so long for their
rights,” says Manisha Dhakal, executive director of Blue Diamond Society (BDS).
The Constitution of Nepal
guarantees the “right to equality” and prohibits discrimination based on
various grounds, including “sex or marital status.”
However, Section 67 of the
National Civil Code 2017 limits the definition of marriage. It says, “If a man
and a woman accept each other as husband and wife through any occasion,
ceremony, formal or other act, a marriage shall be deemed to have been
concluded.”
Similarly, Section 76 of the
Code, concerning marriage registration procedures, is limited to marriages
between men and women.
It says, “Both husband and
wife shall register their marriage by filing an application with the authority
appointed as per law.”
Laxmi Ghalan, Mitini Nepal's
founder-chairperson, says the marriage battle for marriage equality is far from
over.
As the queer community has
been waiting for an enactment of a law to give legal recognition to same-sex
marriages, Ghalan hopes that 2025 will be a turning point.
Right activists say that the
state should treat same-sex and different-sex marriages equally and expand the
legal definition of marriage from a man-woman relationship to a relationship
between any two individuals.
“Besides marriage rights, the
queer community lacks property, employment and education rights,” says Ghalan.
But many things are moving
towards a positive direction.
In late July, the Supreme
Court granted trans woman Ruksana Kapali the right to be recognised as a woman
on legal documents based on self-identification without requiring medical
verification.
“This is a major win for us,”
says Bhumika Shrestha, a transgender activist advocating for gender minorities'
rights and social justice in Nepal since 2007.
“Ruksana’s case will set a
precedent for future activism and legal victories”.
In addition, the sixteenth
five-year plan of the National Planning Commission that frames the country’s
plan and policies has included provisions for sexual and gender minorities.
The LGBTIQA+ community has
been explicitly included in the national development framework for the first
time.
The plan outlines initiatives
to end harmful practices like child and forced marriages targeting sexual and
gender minorities, improve public spaces’ accessibility, and implement a
gender-responsive budget.
“While the plan doesn’t fully
address all sexual and gender minorities rights, its implementation will be key
to ensuring our social and financial rights,” says Dhakal.
All three tiers of
governments—federal, provincial and local—are increasingly incorporating sexual
and gender minorities into their programmes. Provinces including Koshi,
Madhesh, Bagmati, and Lumbini have allocated budgets for skills and training,
startups, and awareness initiatives to support these groups.
“Indeed, that’s an
encouraging initiative,” said Dhakal.
Queer entrepreneurs have
opened restaurants in Jhapa and Morang, and beauty salons in Sunsari. The Nepal
Tourism Board has also been working to harness the global potential of the pink
community.
Last year, the board
organised a trekking guide training programme for 25 LGBTIQA+ individuals.
According to Sunil Babu Pant,
the first openly gay parliamentarian in Asia who served in the constituent
assembly from 2008 to 2012, several businesses are now owned by members of the
LGBTIQA+ community—with at least two dozen bars, restaurants, travel and tour
companies and hotels in Kathmandu. “Businesses are opening up for the queer,
and that’s a good sign. We can promote Nepal as a same-sex marriage and
honeymoon destination.”
Nepal’s diverse culture
includes rich LGBTIQ-related traditions. Exploring the country’s festivals,
temples, symbols, rituals and stories, such as the concept of Ajima and the
recognition of six genders, offers a unique cultural experience.
This year, the political
landscape also saw notable moments.
In November, for the first time,
transgender individuals Honey Maharjan and Mouni Maharjan contested Nepal’s
local by-elections under the Janata Samajwadi Party-Nepal.
“Although they didn’t win, it
was a huge milestone for us,” says Bishwaraj Adhikari, Mr Gay Handsome Nepal
2013, and a human rights defender.
Adhikari, the founder of
Inclusive Galaxy Restaurant in Kathmandu, says the marriage of Nepali gay man
Prajeet Budhathoki and American Joseph Foster Ellis, recognised as ‘husband’
and ‘husband’ in Dharan in October, has sent a strong message that Nepal has
the potential to become a destination for same-sex marriages.
On December 17, Foreign
Minister Arzu Rana Deuba surprised the LGBTIQA+ rights community by
participating in the Equal Rights Coalition Conference in Berlin.
Deuba claimed that Nepal had
been recognised as a global leader in protecting and ensuring the rights of
sexual and gender minorities.
Highlighting Nepal’s strides
in LGBTIQA+ inclusion, she positioned Nepal as a model country for others.
“It was the first time I’ve
seen the government engage internationally on queer rights,” says Shrestha.
A major milestone for the
queer community in Nepal is set to be the 10th ILGA Asia Conference scheduled
for February 2025 with focus on social and humanitarian challenges faced by
LGBTIQA+ people across Asia.
“Being chosen as the host
country for the first time shows Nepal’s global reputation as a safe space for
queer rights,” says Dhakal. “It should encourage the government to recognise
the importance of queer advocacy in shaping policy and boosting tourism.”
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