Can we do more to ensure the dignity and inclusion of transgender individuals? Could the government take a proactive role in constructing hostels equipped with all necessary facilities for the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals?
In 2022, I had the opportunity to work as a Technical Assistant (TA) for the Urban Resilience and Livability Improvement Project. TA is a mode of support provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to facilitate the preparation, financing and execution of development projects and programmes. As part of this role, I conducted assessments of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) status in areas such as Pokhara, Janakpur and several municipalities in Lumbini Province. During these assessments, I consulted with Madhesi, Dalit, Janajati and Muslim women, people with disabilities and LGBTQ individuals.
During my assessment, I found that the lives of LGBTQ individuals, whose population is about 2.5 million, were most vulnerable and challenging. The Constitution enacted in 2015 did not include LGBTQ persons among the country's recognised minority groups.
Among LGBTQ individuals, transgender women, who identify as female despite being assigned males at birth, faced particularly difficult situations. These transgender women were often rejected by their families, relatives and communities, forcing them to leave their hometowns and seek refuge in cities where they live anonymously. However, even in cities, they faced difficulties in finding an educational institution, housing and employment. Many transgender women were forced into sex work as a means of survival, facing exploitation, violence and discrimination. When seeking legal support from the police, they were often ridiculed, abused and threatened.
For instance, one transgender woman invested over Rs 300,000 in opening a fast-food restaurant in Pokhara, but she received very few customers. Eventually, she had to shut down the restaurant and resort to sex work for income. Although there are projects aimed at supporting LGBTQ individuals, they are often short-term initiatives.
Transgender men face even greater challenges. They are often expelled from their homes, lack access to education and struggle to find employment opportunities that respect their gender identity. Despite the insights gained from their professional experiences and interactions, the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender individuals, remain pervasive and deeply entrenched.
Last month, I was in the USA to participate in the NGO Committee for the Status of Women (NGO CSW 68) in New York. During my visit, I noticed something new that I hadn't seen before in Nepal.
During my interview with Phupu in Pokhara, a transgender woman who is very popular among the LGBTQ community there, she reported to me that transgender women were facing difficulties accessing public toilets designed by so-called experts. Phupu reported to me that most public toilets in Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City were designed and made only for men and women. Recently, toilets for people with disabilities are being constructed, but they are difficult to access due to poorly constructed ramps, and there are no toilet facilities for transgender women.
Phupu shared with me a troubling reality, when transgender women try to use men's restrooms, they often endure verbal or even physical abuse from men who are uncomfortable with their appearance and clothing. On the other hand, if transgender women opt for the women's restroom, their presence can cause fear and discomfort among other women.
I had recommended a separate restroom for the LGBTQ community in my TA assessment report to the ADB. During my recent visit to the US, I noticed various types of public toilets. For instance, while at the Statue of Liberty in New York, I visited a nearby gift shop and observed different signs on the doors of the toilets. In the men's restroom, there were facilities for disabled men, while in the women's restroom, there were facilities for disabled women. Additionally, there was a special restroom available for all genders, equipped with facilities for disabled individuals. I have also seen a family washroom. Unlike traditional gender-segregated restrooms, family washrooms provide a space that can be used by any gender. Family restrooms are often equipped with amenities such as changing tables, diaper disposal bins, larger stalls and child-friendly facilities.
To learn more about all-gender restrooms, I visited one that wasn't like the open urinals commonly found in men's restrooms. Instead, all Gender restrooms are single-stall restrooms that have universal-standard signage and a lockable door. The restrooms are equipped with one toilet and, in some cases, a urinal and a door that latches where all gender disable people can also use.
In Nepal, I haven't come across such advanced toilet facilities. But can we do more to ensure the dignity and inclusion of transgender individuals? Could the government take a proactive role in constructing hostels equipped with all necessary facilities for the LGBTQ community, particularly transgender individuals?
Moreover, let's consider employment opportunities. Shouldn't we strive to secure jobs for LGBTQ individuals based on their qualifications and interests, steering them away from dangerous professions like sex work?
If employment opportunities are scarce, could the government step in with financial support or provide ration cards? Just as allowances are provided for people with disabilities, senior citizens and single women, could similar provisions be made for LGBTQ individuals? It's about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, has access to the support they need to live a fulfilling and secure life. We must work on it immediately and sometime Mato Suhaudo Bikash or ideology does not work and we have to borrow the foreign idea.
Sunar is a gender equality and social inclusion expert
