Kathmandu (Pahichan) March 24 – There is a social norm that certain parts of our body should be kept secret. Our social is not liberal when it comes to sexual organs.  Will it be a social to seek a medical proof to provide citizenship to a community as per their gender identity?  Does it mean members of this community disclose their sexual organ openly?

This question was raised by Chairman of Blue Diamond Society Pinky Gurung in a meeting of State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of Parliament. Members of this community have reached BBC office seeking the answer of this question but Nepal media is not providing space to this community.  In the committee, the spirits of discussions is that no one should be denied from citizenship but it is matter of tragedy that lawmakers are divided about providing citizenship to this community. Lawmakers are agreed to provide citizenship in case of those who change their sexual organ which is justifiable.

However, the problems lies on those who do not wish to change their sexual organ but want to seek citizenship as per their gender identity. Committee Chairman Sashi Shrestha said as there has been agreement on the submission of medical proof, the issue will be discussed again. However, members of this community are raising questions that why they need to proof medical proof as same rules are not applicable in the case of male and female.

Some members of this community have already received citizenship under O category and now they wish to change their names as per their specific identity.  They received citizenship as per the circular issued by Ministry of Home Affairs in 2069 Poush 16.  Sunil Babu Pant, former member of Constituent Assembly(CA) first made this circular public.  When Pant was lawmaker, it was very easy to lobby in favor of gender and sexual minority.

The Committee has formed 9-member sub-committee to discuss about the issues related to citizenship. The sub-committee has been entrusted to settle the remaining issues of citizenship within 15 days. The sub-committee will not enter into the issues which are already agreed upon.

The sub-committee members are Bijaya Subba, Nawaraj Silwal, Yasoda Subedi, Devendraraj Kandel, Mina Pandey, Laxmi Chaudhary, Ram Saya Prasad Yadav, Raj Kishowr Yadav and Prem Suwal.

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