Nepal's Supreme Court orders marriage registration for same-sex couples

The Supreme Court of Nepal recently issued an interim order directing the office of the prime minister and council of ministers as well as other relevant ministries to establish a “transitional mechanism” to ensure the registration of marriages for “same-sex couples,” The Hindu reported.

The interim order—issued by a single judge bench of Justice Til Prasad Shrestha—resulted from litigation filed on June 7 by Pinky Gurung, current president of the LGBTQ+-rights organization Blue Diamond Society.

“This is a very significant development as same-sex as well as third genders and their partners can register their marriages. They will be entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples. Parliament may take a while to pass the marriage equality law but this order gives a practical solution to members of the sexual and gender minority communities who wish to register their marriage legally,” said Sunil Babu Pant. Pant, the founder of Blue Diamond, is a member of Nepal’s parliament.

This landmark decision makes Nepal the first country in South Asia to allow marriage registration for same-sex couples, according to EFE.

—Andrew Davis

Related