Same-sex marriage in Nepal
Encyclopedia
On November 17, 2008, Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of laws to guarantee full rights to LGBT people, and all gender minorities must be defined as “natural persons” under the law; this included the right to marry. "This is a landmark decision for the sexual minorities and we welcome it," said Sunil Babu Pant
, Nepal
's first publicly gay lawmaker and a leading gay rights activist in South Asia. The court asked the government to form a committee to study same sex partnership laws in other countries and asked that the new law does not discriminate against sexual minorities, including cross-dressing and transgendered people.
On March 22, 2009, Pant said in an interview with the Indo-Asian News Service
that "Though the court has approved of same sex marriage, the government is yet to enact a law," signaling that while a same-sex marriage
bill has been ordered by the Supreme Court, it has yet to be drafted or voted on, much less legislated. In June, 2009, Pant said the process has just started. “Nepal is going through transition and everything seems to move slowly. The seven-member committee has formed and just started working to study same-sex marriage bills in other countries. Hopefully they will draft the suggestion to make same-sex marriage law soon and give it to the Government to approve.”
Several sources are reporting that same-sex marriage and protections for sexual minorities will be included in the new Nepalese constitution
currently being drafted.
Nepal currently has the Interim Constitution
. The Interim Constitution provides for a Constituent Assembly, which is charged with writing Nepal's permanent constitution. The CA is now in the process of preparing its first draft. Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution was to be promulgated by November 30, 2011, but a final six month extension was granted just before this deadline bringing the date to May 31, 2012.
Sunil Babu Pant
Sunil Babu Pant is the first openly gay politician in Nepal. He is one of five members from the CPN in the constituent assembly, and is also head of the Blue Diamond Society, the only gay rights group in Nepal...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
's first publicly gay lawmaker and a leading gay rights activist in South Asia. The court asked the government to form a committee to study same sex partnership laws in other countries and asked that the new law does not discriminate against sexual minorities, including cross-dressing and transgendered people.
On March 22, 2009, Pant said in an interview with the Indo-Asian News Service
Indo-Asian News Service
Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is India's largest private news agency. The IANS is run by a group of professional journalists.The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service...
that "Though the court has approved of same sex marriage, the government is yet to enact a law," signaling that while a same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
bill has been ordered by the Supreme Court, it has yet to be drafted or voted on, much less legislated. In June, 2009, Pant said the process has just started. “Nepal is going through transition and everything seems to move slowly. The seven-member committee has formed and just started working to study same-sex marriage bills in other countries. Hopefully they will draft the suggestion to make same-sex marriage law soon and give it to the Government to approve.”
Several sources are reporting that same-sex marriage and protections for sexual minorities will be included in the new Nepalese constitution
Constitution of Nepal
Nepal is governed under the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007. It came into force on January 15, 2007. the Interim Constitution was drafted by a committee headed by the late Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal...
currently being drafted.
Nepal currently has the Interim Constitution
Constitution of Nepal
Nepal is governed under the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007. It came into force on January 15, 2007. the Interim Constitution was drafted by a committee headed by the late Justice Laxman Prasad Aryal...
. The Interim Constitution provides for a Constituent Assembly, which is charged with writing Nepal's permanent constitution. The CA is now in the process of preparing its first draft. Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution was to be promulgated by November 30, 2011, but a final six month extension was granted just before this deadline bringing the date to May 31, 2012.