Birat Anupam
Soon after Nepal traversed from absolute monarchy to officially Federal Democratic Republic following popular April uprising, also termed as 'Rhododendron Revolution', of 2006 Nepal made some laudable leaps in the sectors of inclusion, secularism, civic participation, human rights and so on. It also dawned a golden hour to speak out for all those oppressed by previous state establishments. Popular movement in Terai/Madhes, strong advocacy of ethnic rights and inclusion and rights of all minorities were surfaced thereafter. Sexual minorities too utilized this opportunity to raise their otherwise hidden demands and debates. Nepali media and social media started to exhibit normalcy at seeing words like lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex for which advocacy group summary in short as LGBTI. People turned vocal to talk on these issues publicly. Blue Diamond Society, an umbrella non-governmental organization of these sexual minorities, was succeed to include its activist and leader Sunil Babu Panta in Nepal's historic Constituent Assembly so as to make their presence and pen their issue in to-be-written national constitution making Pant Asia's first open gay parliamentarian in the world. This gave Nepal a spotlight as safe haven for sexual minorities prompting praises from various quarters of human rights and sexually minorities' advocacy forums.
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Having progressed on all these fronts, Nepal stills is in confusion whether to draft a law legalizing same same-sex marriage, including gay marriage. Gay marriage must not be viewed with suspicion and those practicing such marriage must not be shamed and looked down as every individual has his universal right to stay the way he prefers. Marriage, these days, has gone through paradigm shift. In our grandfathers' time, child marriage was mainstream marriage and love marriage and adult marriage was societal stigma. People would marriage for children in the past. However, getting children and being parents have so many options in these modern times. Potential parents may adopt children or test-tube baby concept is also widely opted. Marriage is not limited to producing children and caving in to the way society wants but to be emotionally, mentally and sexually happy life-long. We must not see sexuality and gender the way our patriarchal and male-female perception defines it. We can cite examples of gay and lesbian even in our ancient scriptures meaning it is not matter developed in today's time but originated since the start of human civilization. Hardliner logics may ask of the way society functions in case gay marriage is made legal and practiced widely. Can we guarantee child from every married couple who are sterile? Or, the ordinary pattern of society gets damaged and dysfunctional if few minority gay get married their way? Both answers are big NO. Yes, if gay marriage is made legal many gay marry in public making easy for those who are hiding their sexual status as gays. And, this makes orthodox member of society sad for a while too. However, what if one is to suppress his sexuality and marriage urge all his life going through emotional traumas just because of societal 'values'. Can society say values of majority are its sole values or have to accommodate all? Who compensates if someone suicides just because of legal provision restricting his marring desire? Therefore, it is time to come out of our comfort zone Okaying and adopting gay marriage especially by our state and other members of society other than gays like us. This is the biggest display of humanity and situation of society being equal to all.
Birat Anupam
Soon after Nepal traversed from absolute monarchy to officially Federal Democratic Republic following popular April uprising, also termed as 'Rhododendron Revolution', of 2006 Nepal made some laudable leaps in the sectors of inclusion, secularism, civic participation, human rights and so on. It also dawned a golden hour to speak out for all those oppressed by previous state establishments. Popular movement in Terai/Madhes, strong advocacy of ethnic rights and inclusion and rights of all minorities were surfaced thereafter. Sexual minorities too utilized this opportunity to raise their otherwise hidden demands and debates. Nepali media and social media started to exhibit normalcy at seeing words like lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex for which advocacy group summary in short as LGBTI. People turned vocal to talk on these issues publicly. Blue Diamond Society, an umbrella non-governmental organization of these sexual minorities, was succeed to include its activist and leader Sunil Babu Panta in Nepal's historic Constituent Assembly so as to make their presence and pen their issue in to-be-written national constitution making Pant Asia's first open gay parliamentarian in the world. This gave Nepal a spotlight as safe haven for sexual minorities prompting praises from various quarters of human rights and sexually minorities' advocacy forums.
Having progressed on all these fronts, Nepal stills is in confusion whether to draft a law legalizing same same-sex marriage, including gay marriage. Gay marriage must not be viewed with suspicion and those practicing such marriage must not be shamed and looked down as every individual has his universal right to stay the way he prefers. Marriage, these days, has gone through paradigm shift. In our grandfathers' time, child marriage was mainstream marriage and love marriage and adult marriage was societal stigma. People would marriage for children in the past. However, getting children and being parents have so many options in these modern times. Potential parents may adopt children or test-tube baby concept is also widely opted. Marriage is not limited to producing children and caving in to the way society wants but to be emotionally, mentally and sexually happy life-long. We must not see sexuality and gender the way our patriarchal and male-female perception defines it. We can cite examples of gay and lesbian even in our ancient scriptures meaning it is not matter developed in today's time but originated since the start of human civilization. Hardliner logics may ask of the way society functions in case gay marriage is made legal and practiced widely. Can we guarantee child from every married couple who are sterile? Or, the ordinary pattern of society gets damaged and dysfunctional if few minority gay get married their way? Both answers are big NO. Yes, if gay marriage is made legal many gay marry in public making easy for those who are hiding their sexual status as gays. And, this makes orthodox member of society sad for a while too. However, what if one is to suppress his sexuality and marriage urge all his life going through emotional traumas just because of societal 'values'. Can society say values of majority are its sole values or have to accommodate all? Who compensates if someone suicides just because of legal provision restricting his marring desire? Therefore, it is time to come out of our comfort zone Okaying and adopting gay marriage especially by our state and other members of society other than gays like us. This is the biggest display of humanity and situation of society being equal to all.
