KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 13
The same-sex union of 33-year-old Anju Devi Shrestha from Bardiya and Suprita Gurung, 33, from Tanahu, has received legal recognition.
Both women, Shrestha, a resident of Badhaiyatal-2, Bardiya, and Gurung from Bandipur-5, Tanahu, entered into marriage five years ago.
Their marriage obtained legal recognition through the registration process at the Badhaiyatal Rural Municipality, Ward No. 2 Office. Anju and Suprita formalized their relationship through marriage, which they initiated five years ago.
Deepak Nepali, ward secretary and civil registration officer of Badhaiyatal-2, mentioned that Anju and Suprita submitted an application to the Ward Office on January 18, 2024, for marriage registration. The Office issued the marriage registration certificate on Sunday, in coordination with the technical section of the Department of National ID and Civil Registration.
The certificate indicates that the marriage is temporarily registered until the formulation of the related law, stated Rural Municipality's chief administrative officer Arjun Subedi. Anju currently resides in Kohalpur-5, Banke district, while Suprita lives in Britain.
"We became acquainted through Facebook while studying in Grade 12. As our relationship deepened, we decided to marry," Anju explained during a press conference held in Nepalgunj on Monday. "We married according to religious customs after falling in love and living together," she added, mentioning that they tied the knot at the Chhanchhangdi Temple in Waling, Syangja, five years ago.
Despite facing disapproval from their families and relatives in the past, they now have their support.
Paschim Tara Nepal in Nepalgunj and Mayako Pahichan Nepal in Kathmandu, two social organizations advocating for the rights and identity of sexual and gender minority communities, highlighted that the registration of Anju and Suprita's marriage supports their campaign.
