Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community celebrates as country gets first trans lawmaker
Bhumika Shrestha has become Nepal’s first transgender woman lawmaker (Prakash MATHEMA / AFP)
Nepal’s LGBTQ+ community is celebrating after Bhumika Shrestha became the country’s first transgender lawmaker on 16 March.
Nepal’s Election Commission confirmed Shrestha as a proportional-representation MP from the Rastriya Swatantra Party following a party win in parliament last week.
Shrestha identifies as “third gender”, a gender which has been legally recognised in Nepal since a 2007 Supreme Court ruling surrounding self-identification.
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The country is a leader for LGBTQ+ rights in South Asia and is regarded as having some of the region’s most progressive laws, but the community still faces much discrimination.
“I am very excited but also feel the responsibility on my shoulders,” said Shrestha of the appointment. “Our constitution has provisions for our community but they have not translated to laws and policies. Our community expects me to raise our issues [in parliament].”
Shrestha’s appointment was met with support from the LGBTQ+ community, and saw people gather at the Kathmandu headquarters of the Blue Diamond Society, an LGBTQ+ organisation that Shrestha has collaborated with in the past, to celebrate.
Supporters presented Shrestha with flowers, scarves and historic gifts to commemorate the win, reported Scene Mag.
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