Citizenship Under ‘third Gender’
A local administration in Nepal has issued a citizenship certificate to a transgender person under a "third" gender category.
Bishnu Adhikari, 21, of Dhikurpokhari VDC ward-9 in Kaski district, was issued such an ID as per a Supreme Court verdict handed down last year, said administrative officer at the District Administration Office Taranath Adhikari, who issued the citizenship.
The Apex Court handed down its verdict on December 21 last year, thus allowing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people to obtain citizenship certificates and avail of other rights at par with other citizens of the country.
This is the second time such an ID has been issued after Chanda Musalman of Banke district got a citizenship certificate with "male and female" mentioned under the gender category in January last year.
"I'm a daughter biologically," said an upbeat Bishnu Adhikari Thursday, adding, "But socially, I'm a son. Right from my childhood I started putting on pants and other boy's clothing instead of girl's garb like skirts."
According to Adhikari, it was very difficult to get such a certificate.
"Even the VDC secretary was first reluctant to recommend me as a third gender person. However, I insisted and finally got it."
When asked about this, Chief District Officer Baliram Prasad Singh denied having any information. "I'm looking into the details as to who issued such a citizenship as there has been no such directive from the Home Ministry."
Officer Adhikari, however, insisted that he issued the certificate as per the Supreme Court verdict. "I gave it as I understand that a court order is as good as the law."
Meanwhile, Blue Diamond Society, an organization working for the rights of LGBTs, hailed the Kaski DAO's decision on issuing such a certificate.
"This is a landmark decision for sexual and gender minorities in Nepal after the Supreme Court verdict," a press statement read.