Kathmandu : Parliamentarians of Nepal have raised the issue of gender reassignment and the operation of hormone clinics, reasoning that the act is against the constitution and law.

During a meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Ranju Jha, a parliamentarian from Janata Samajwadi Party, pointed out negative consequences if hormone clinics and gender reassignment continues. “They wish to get citizenship as either men or women even through gender reassignment or hormone therapy, which is illegal. The government must stop it.”

According to the amendments in the Citizenship Act 2063, there is a provision to grant citizenship to the sexual and gender minorities (SGM) under “other” category according to their identity. However, some NGOs working the SGM rights, including the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), have been blamed for carrying out the “wrong” campaign for gender reassignment and hormone therapy for their personal interests, leading to potential adverse health effects even to the extremity of death in some cases. This has now drawn concerns within the community.

These NGOs in collusion with the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) have been openly running hormone clinics, thus inciting gender reassignment.

The operation of hormone clinics as a fashion across the country should be stopped immediately, she viewed.

Do not get lured into gender reassignment or hormone therapy: Victims

SGM members have expressed concern about negative health effects potentially caused by gender reassignment or hormone therapy.

They called for the government to stop this “illegal” act immediately. They instead emphasised the launch of livelihood programmes for SGMs when they have been ensured their right to citizenship under “other” category.

Gender reassignment and hormone therapy has in many cases led to various physical and mental problems, they said.

Many people in the community are suffering from various physical and mental problems due to the indiscriminate use of hormones in the pursuit of beauty. “The practice leads to diabetes, kidney problems, uric acid, thyroid, cancer, skin problems, various internal problems, etc.,” said a member of the community, “but working since 2001 for SGM rights and empowerment, it feels that BDS has lost its way by encouraging the illegal act.”

There is a “wrong” trend of opting for gender reassignment and hormone therapy encouraged by some NGOs in collusion with the FPAN without meeting the standards set by the Ministry of Health and Population, said the member.