Lamjung : After the long struggle, there is now a provision in Nepal for the formal registration of marriage for gender and sexual minority couples. This is a historic achievement for Nepal’s gender and sexual minority community. Even though Kathmandu District court refused to implement the Supreme Court’s order, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Civil registration and National Identity Department has issued a circular to local authorities to register same-sex marriages. This circular, issued honoring the Supreme Court’s order dated 29th June 2023, opens the path for couples from Nepal’s gender and sexual minority community to register their marriages through local bodies.

The tireless efforts of Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey have made this historic achievement possible. On behalf of Maya ko Pahichan Nepal, I would like to express my deepest and profound respect to Maya and Surendra’s struggle. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the authorized team members of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ National Identity and Civil Registration Department, including Director General Jhakka Prasad Acharya, Director Dilkumar Tamang, Branch Officer Sameer Bhandari, Communication Expert Anita Sivakoti for executing and making the marriage registration online system inclusive to all sexual and gender minority people in Nepal.

Furthermore, I express my continuous appreciation for the unwavering support provided by senior journalist and Pahichan Online’s editor, Madhav Dulal, for this collaboration. Additionally, I extend my gratitude to all the social organizations across Nepal, including Samarpan Shavya Samaj Nepal, Parichaya Society, Mitini Nepal, Blue Diamond Society, among others, for their support and solidarity in continuously fighting for the rights of the gender and sexual minority community.

Now, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey are soon to register their marriage in Dordi Village of Lamjung District, very far and remote mountainous region of Nepal. We expect full cooperation in this historic process of registering their same-sex marriage from the local authority of Dordi Village.

by personal efforts, Maya and Surendra have brought this struggle to a successful conclusion. My continuous support and collaboration will persist. Thank you.

It feels like 23 years of activism paying well off.

Sunil Babu Pant
Advisor (probono)
Maya ko Pahichan Nepal
Lazimpat, Kathmandu