Queer Womxn Pride Nepal 2023

Info

Queer Womxn Pride Nepal takes place on 10th June 2023.

In context of Nepal, ‘LGBTIQ’ population has been considered as ‘a separate population’ whereby instead of incorporating the struggles of all women – the ‘LGBTIQ’ population is being considered as something that needs to be addressed differently from the women’s rights movement. It isn’t uncommon to hear from women rights activists that they acknowledge ‘LGBTIQ’ rights, and it is a ‘separate issue’. The image of ‘a woman’ has been built in cisnormativity, intersex exclusion and heteronormativity. The mainstream women’s rights movement is yet to acknowledge and embrace women who aren’t cisgender and/or heterosexual.

Trans Women
There is a widespread misconception in Nepal that trans women are ‘third genders’. Due to this misconception the mainstream women rights activism instead of embracing trans women in the movement, contemplate that the ‘third gender’ rights movement should be shown solidarity to. Before 2017/18 – the term ‘transgender’ didn’t exist in Nepali language, including various languages spoken in Nepal. The term ‘tesrolingi’ (third gender) was being used as a Nepali language translation to the term ‘transgender’. With the upsurge of the second wave PoMSOGIESEC (People of Marginalized Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Sex Characteristics) movement in Nepal, the term ‘paralaingik‘ emerged which fulfilled the gap. This resulted in trans folks adopting and embracing the terminology that correctly explains their gender identity without being subjected to being referred to as ‘third gender’. In 2020, for the first time, trans women in Nepal started submitting applications to address themselves as ‘Female’ in identity cards and certificates. The trail blaze initiated with Rukshana Kapali, followed by Noor KC. The National Transgender Demand Sheet (31 March 2020) along several other demands on recognition of trans folks – upheld that trans women and trans men should be able to tick Female and Male gender markers respectively.