Morang, February 21

More than 100 gay and lesbian couples from Morang have been deprived of their right to marry in the absence of a law legalising their marriage, said Blue Diamond Society.

More than 100 gay and lesbian couples in Morang are waiting to tie the knot legally, informed Madhav Dulal, Morang branch information officer of the Society at a press conference organised today by the Society and the Paribartansil Samaj.

He said they want to get married publicly. “Although the Supreme Court has allowed marriageable-age gays and lesbians to live together, marriage between them is yet to be accepted legally,” he said.

Likewise, on the occasion, Chairman of Samaj Biratnagar branch Muskan Shrestha said marked progress could not be made in terms of empowering gays and lesbians in the

district through various income-generating programmes and trainings for want of adequate budget.

There are approximately 11,000 gays, lesbians and third genders in the district, according to available data.