Nepal becomes first nation to allow same-sex marriage

Nepal : On Wednesday, Nepal officially recorded its inaugural case of same-sex marriage, marking the country as the first in South Asia to take this step. This development occurred five months after the Supreme Court legalized such unions. Maya Gurung, a 35-year-old trans woman, and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay man, have legally entered into matrimony. The ceremony was solemnized and officially documented at the Dordi Rural Municipality in Lamjung district, located in Western Nepal, as reported by Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), the president of Blue Diamond Society, an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of sexual minorities in Nepal.

In a historic development, Nepal officially recorded its first instance of same-sex marriage on Wednesday, becoming the inaugural South Asian country to do so. This noteworthy event occurred five months after the Supreme Court's legalization of such marriages. Maya Gurung, a 35-year-old trans woman, and Surendra Pandey, 27, a gay man, have formally entered into matrimony. The union was solemnized and officially documented at the Dordi Rural Municipality in Lamjung district, located in Western Nepal, as reported by Sanjib Gurung (Pinky), president of the Blue Diamond Society—an organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and welfare of sexual minorities in Nepal.

Notably, in 2007, Nepal's Supreme Court had granted permission for same-sex marriage. Furthermore, the 2015 Constitution of Nepal explicitly prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

On June 27, 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order legalizing same-sex marriage in Nepal in response to a writ petition filed by various individuals, including Gurung. However, despite the historic interim order, the Kathmandu District Court rejected the move four months ago, citing a lack of necessary laws.