Kaski, Oct 3: Rupa Rural Municipality-5 in Kaski district has registered another rainbow marriage following the supreme court’s landmark verdict to recognise same-sex marriage.
The marriage between Anjali Thapa Pokhara Metropolitan City-8 and Laxmi Silwal (Raj) of Rupa Rural Municipality, was registered in a temporary record as per the court’s verdict, and orders from the Department of National ID and Civil Registration, said ward chair Rajan Khanal. “We have issued temporary marriage registration certificates.”
Laxmi and Anjali, who got married on 23 January, 2013 at Bindabasini temple in Pokhara, faced many difficulties for the legal recognition of their marriage. “We are happy to have our marriage registered legally after 12 years of struggle,” said elated Laxmi, who acquired citizenship under the “other” category.
On 27 June 2023, the Supreme Court issued an interim order to register marriages involving sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities in temporary records until related laws are made.
Following this order, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey became the first couple to legally register their same-sex marriage, making Nepal the first country to recognise same-sex marriage in South Asia and the second in Asia behind Taiwan.
Similarly, a lesbian couple, Anju Devi Shrestha and Suprita Gurung also registered their marriage legally.
Mayako Pahichan Nepal (MKPN), a non-governmental organisation advocating for the SGM rights, has been facilitating same-sex marriage registration, providing guidance and counseling to those seeking legal recognition of their marriage, said MKPN’s Secretary Surendra Pandey.
MKPN also facilitated the recent registration of Nepal’s first gay marriage at Siddhapokhari Rural Municipality in Sankhuwasabha, he said.
