KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 2
Surendra Pandey from Kathmandu-1 is preparing for a door-to-door campaign for the upcoming March 5 election, and so are other sexual and gender minority community members who are in the fray.
Pandey married Maya Gurung (a transgender woman) almost a decade ago in accordance with Hindu rituals, but they struggled to obtain legal recognition. Their marriage was officially registered in 2023, making them Nepal's first same-sex married couple.
Pandey has long been an advocate for the rights of sexual and gender minorities. His companion, Maya, is a transgender woman who is legally recognised as a man. Pandey is also a male.
Pandey expressed his concerns to THT, noting that the law has yet to address the LGBTIQA+ community's concerns. "As a result, we have decided to reach a place where our voice can be heard and play a role in making policies," he said.
Pandey, who initially struggled from court to court to have their marriage recognised, has now prepared for the House of Representatives election on March 5. "We are currently engaged in an online campaign for the election. We will start a door-to-door campaign following the Election Commission's instructions." Pandey is contesting in the Kathmandu-1 constituency from the Samabeshi Samajwadi Party led by transgender woman Numa Limbu, who is also contesting from Morang-4. The Samabeshi Samajwadi Party has six candidates from the LGBTIQA+ community running for the election.
"Our party has 21 candidates in the race, representing all genders and communities," Pandey told THT. "There are 15 proportional representation candidates and six direct from this party."
Other candidates in Rupandehi-2 include Debendra Khatri, alias Madhu, Purnachandra Paudel from the Kathmandu-10 constituency, Pinky Rai (other) from the Rupandehi-1 constituency and Binod Lama (Konika, a transgender woman) from the Kavre-1 constituency. According to Sunil Babu Pant, the first openly gay member of the Constituent Assembly (2008-12) and advisor of the party, forming their own party and running for office is about claiming their rightful place and exercising their democratic rights.
"As GSM/LGBTI candidates for the Samabeshi Samaajwadi Party (SSP), we are not asking for special treatment; we are demanding equal representation, dignity, and a say in shaping Nepal's future," Pant stated.
Other political parties, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party (PLP), have also included members of sexual and gender minority communities in their proportional representation (PR) list.
Bhumika Shrestha, a transgender woman, has been included on the RSP proportional representation list, while the PLP has incorporated Rukshna Kapali, a transgender woman.
Both Kapali and Shrestha are prominent figures in their community for advocating the rights of sexual and gender minorities.
Kapali told THT, "I have been included on the second number of the PR list, and my election campaign experience so far is enriching." The main reason she got involved in the electoral process, she explained, was to get to a position where she could help shape policies. "I want to carry my activism forward with the electoral process," she stated.
Similarly, Shrestha expressed her excitement and happiness to be included on the PR list. "I am currently involved in door-to-door campaigning for the party," she stated. "The primary motivation for me to run in the election was RSP's positive approach and the opportunity to contribute to our community by enacting laws and policies that have created complexities."
