Kathmandu, June 2, 2025 – Nepal has finally legalized same-sex marriage, ending a long wait. Last Friday (May 31), the country’s parliament legalized same-sex marriage, a rare event in Asia. Soon after, on Saturday (June 1), a female couple made history by becoming the first same-sex couple to register their marriage. Nepal’s decision is being hailed as a groundbreaking step in human rights and equality.
The historic marriage was registered by Rukmini and Poonam. They went to a local government office in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, to officially register their marriage. Their well-wishers and human rights activists were present at the time. The couple has brought a new ray of hope to Nepal’s gay community.
In November 2023, Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. The court ordered the government to start the process of registering same-sex marriages. In light of that ruling, the parliament passed the law. The court ruling was considered historic, as it was the first time that the country had legally recognized same-sex relationships.
Nepal has been quite liberal on gay rights since 2007. That year, the country's Supreme Court ordered the government to protect the fundamental rights of gay people. Since then, various organizations working for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Nepal have been actively campaigning. The new law is the result of their long-standing movement.
Nepal's move has set an example for other countries in Asia. Only a handful of countries in the Asian continent have legalized same-sex marriage. Among them, Taiwan was the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. Thailand has also recently followed suit. Nepal's decision is particularly important in the context of South Asia, where same-sex relationships are still not socially or legally recognized in most countries.
Human rights activists have welcomed Nepal's move. They say it will ensure respect and equality not only for same-sex couples, but for the entire LGBTQ+ community. This will allow them to be more integrated into society and their rights will be protected. It is hoped that this example from Nepal will encourage further discussion and action on gay rights in the regional and international arena.
