Nepal’s lawmakers question gender reassignment, hormone therapy
15th June, Kathmandu
The House of Representatives (HoR) of Nepal has discussed the issue of the “illegal” operation of hormone clinics and incitement for gender reassignment and hormone therapy.
During the HoR meeting recently, Ranju Jha, a parliamentarian from Janata Samajwadi Party, pointed out negative consequences if hormone clinics and gender reassignment continues. “They wish to get citizenship as either men or women even through gender reassignment or hormone therapy, which is illegal. The government must stop it.”
According to the amendments in the Citizenship Act 2063, there is a provision to grant citizenship to the sexual and gender minorities (SGM) under “other” category according to their identity. However, some NGOs working for the SGM rights, including the Blue Diamond Society (BDS), the Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities-Nepal (FSGMN) and Cruiseaids Nepal, have been blamed for carrying out the “wrong” campaign for gender reassignment and hormone therapy for their personal interests, leading to potential adverse health effects even to the extremity of death in some cases. This has now drawn concerns within the community.
These NGOs in collusion with the Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) have been openly running hormone clinics, thus supporting gender reassignment.
The operation of hormone clinics as a fashion across the country should be stopped immediately, she viewed.
The parliamentarians have called for the regulatory body to do the needful to thwart the efforts of these organisations to attack Nepal’s cultural identity with the help of foreign grants by illegally running hormone clinics and inciting gender reassignment and hormone therapy.
Groups formed for self-interest
It has been found that the failed leaderships of these organisations have been trying to mislead donor agencies and boycott Mayako Pahichan Nepal (MKPN), a non-governmental organisation working for the SGM rights. Formed on the initiatives of Sunil Babu Pant, Asia’s first openly gay former parliamentarian of Nepal, MKPN has been strongly advocating against gender reassignment and hormone therapy, and supporting the inclusion of the community under “other” gender category in official documents, something to which the aforementioned three organisations have opposed.
These three SGM organisations have instead advocated for identifying the community as male or female even through potentially risky gender reassignment or hormone therapy, which is “illegal” under the constitution of Nepal.
In the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 31, 2012, it has been said that sexual and gender minorities include homosexuals, third genders, bisexuals, and intergenders.
One is free to identify themselves as something than the specified categories. However, the MKPN members are of the view that it is important to be aware of the violation of the rights of others when it comes to their human rights. They have referred to these SGM organisations in question.
Those on a reform campaign for SGMs have expressed concerns about such “wrongdoings” by these SGM organisations.
Such practices may potentially negatively impact the public perception of SGMs, said a campaign member.
Call for stopping illegal activities within SGMs
Expressing concern about problems and illegal practices within the community, lawmakers have demanded a solution while ending illegal practices within the community.
Concerned about it, lawmakers Jha and Shushila Shrestha have urged the government to take necessary steps in stopping the “illegal” practice of gender reassignment and hormone therapy, showing the potential health risks associated with the treatments.
Bindabasini Kangshakar has praised the budget for the next fiscal year, 2024/25 for incorporating awareness and empowerment programmes for SGMs but shed doubt on their effective implementation. Prithivi Subba Gurung demanded a separate act for the community.
