Nepal Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Published November 19, 2008 @ 12:55PM PT

Nepal Nepal has just become the first South Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. Nepal, the country that borders India (where homosexuality is still illegal) and China (which is slightly better - homosexuality was decriminalized 11 years ago, and was officially removed from lists of mental illnesses in 2001, but the Communist Party in China has a long history of persecuting LGBT people).

Nepal's Supreme Court ruled this week that the Maoist-led government must formulate necessary laws to guarantee full rights to gays and lesbians, including the right to same-sex marriage. How amazing is this? Just one year ago, Nepal's court issued a ruling that officially recognized the citizenship of gay and lesbians. Today, these same gays and lesbians can get married.

So much for social progress being slow! Two years ago, gays and lesbians weren't even considered full citizens. Today, it looks like they can get married.

This ruling could have major international implications, too, in part because India's High Court is set to rule early next year about whether or not to decriminalize homosexuality. India is Nepal's next-door neighbor. Could Nepal's actions put renewed pressure on India to decriminalize homosexuality?

Per the Nepal Court's ruling:

A seven-member committee [will] be formed by the government of Nepal to study the different same sex partnerships/marriage bills/acts in other countries and recommend the government to make same sex marriage/partnership acts. Based on the recommendation of this committee, the government must introduce a same sex partnership/marriage act.

Sunil Pant, who just this year became Nepal's first openly gay Member of Parliament (MoP), had this to say about the ruling. I can't think of a better way to end this post, myself:

Reading this decision my eyes were filled with tears and I felt we are the most proud LGBTI citizens of Nepal in the world. It is the most beautiful news.

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Comments (6)

Ah....the Nepalese join the Canadians, Dutch, Belgian, Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish and South African nations.

Doesn't it make you proud of the United States? Aren't you filled with pride when you recite the Pledge of Allegiance?

It is interesting to note that all the nations are based upon a parliamentary system.....and are all constitutional monarchies either directly or by Commonwealth membership.

It seems that Queens love queens !!!! and Kings too....

Posted by A B on 12/02/2008 @ 06:00PM PT
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Awww man! Seven countries now have marriage! Does the US have marriage equality. With the exception of a handful of states, the answer is "Hell, NO". It's about time that the US policy on marriage equality is brought into line with those eight European countries who do.

We would have same-sex marriage now if the Religious Wrong didn't have the tendency to try to force their benighted homophobic bullshit down everyone's throats. They need to be brought to hell. If Canada can keep its fundies on a short leash, why can't the US follow suit? Oh, yeah--the government with few exceptions is too busy pandering to the fundie element to do the right thing. They disgust me.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 12/31/2008 @ 01:38PM PT
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Awww man! Seven countries now have marriage! Does the US have marriage equality. With the exception of a handful of states, the answer is "Hell, NO". It's about time that the US policy on marriage equality is brought into line with those eight European countries who do.

We would have same-sex marriage now if the Religious Wrong didn't have the tendency to try to force their benighted homophobic bullshit down everyone's throats. They need to be brought to hell. If Canada can keep its fundies on a short leash, why can't the US follow suit? Oh, yeah--the government with few exceptions is too busy pandering to the fundie element to do the right thing. They disgust me.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 12/31/2008 @ 01:38PM PT
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Yeah right!! The religious wrong in Alabama still complain when gay people go dancing with their special friend at Disney World every June. That disgusts me. Fortunately, Disney is on our side and ignores the threats from the religious wrong from any state.

Posted by Chris . on 10/23/2009 @ 03:43PM PT
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Just to clarify the email sent by Ioan lightoller. As European I can confirm that sam-sex marriages in Europe is allowed in 4 Countries; Belgium, Netherlands (Holland), Norway and Spain. Although we have several countries recognizing Civil Unions with similar rights as marriages.

Posted by Alessandro Leporatti on 01/06/2009 @ 08:48PM PT
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sexy fucking thanks

Posted by maqsood alam on 06/14/2009 @ 11:51PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.