Historic Legalization: Nepal's LGBTQ+ Couple Makes South Asian History with Marriage

An LGBTQ+ couple in Nepal, Maya Gurung and Surendra Pandey, have become the first in South Asia to have their marriage legally recognized. After facing legal and social difficulties, their marriage was registered under a new order issued by the supreme court. Nepal has been a regional leader in LGBTQ+ rights, being the first South Asian country to pass laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation and recognizing transgender individuals as a "third gender." However, same-sex couples in Nepal still face challenges of social acceptance, discrimination, and violence.