- Title: NEPAL: Transsexuals demand more rights in Nepal
- Date: 12th September 2007
- Summary: (BN10) KATHMANDU, NEPAL (SEPTEMBER 12, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRANSSEXUAL NEPALIS FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, SOME OF THEM DRESSED AS WOMEN IN ETHNIC DRESSES, MARCHING IN PROTEST SOUNDBITE(Nepali) GINA, NEPALI, SAYING: "The demand from all my gay colleagues is to let us have the opportunity to vote and be a candidate for the forthcoming Constituent Assembly elec
- Embargoed: 27th September 2007 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nepal
- Country: Nepal
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAAQ355DOIOH93G9KPCVOOVSD7T
- Story Text: Hundreds of transsexuals marched in Nepal's capital on Wednesday (September 12) in a rare protest, demanding equal rights for sexual minorities and representation in a national assembly to be elected this year.
About 500 transsexuals -- who are demanding legal recognition as a third sex -- carried rainbow flags through Kathmandu, many men wearing colourful Nepali dresses or crimson saris, with some women in menswear.
They want an end to discrimination in the mostly Hindu country, where homosexuality is taboo and effectively illegal under a vaguely worded law that bans "unnatural" sex.
Many said they faced difficulties obtaining citizenship papers needed for getting jobs and starting businesses.
One protester, called Gina, explained, "The demand from all my gay colleagues is to let us have the opportunity to vote and be a candidate for the forthcoming Constituent assembly election in a participatory manner."
Nepal's first elections in eight years are expected to happen on November 22. Voters will choose an assembly, which will draft a new constitution and decide the fate of the monarchy. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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