Nepal
Nepal decriminalized same-sex relations in 2007 with the Supreme Court's Sunil Babu Pant v. Nepal Government ruling. The 2007 Supreme Court interim order recognised third gender; on June 28, 2023, the Court further directed the government to temporarily register same-sex marriages, with the first one registered in November 2023 (first in South Asia). However, temporary registration does not grant the same legal rights as opposite-sex couples. Third gender («O») recognized on documents since 2015, though binary M↔F change not permitted. No explicit anti-discrimination law though with indirect constitutional protection. Kathmandu with Pink Mountain Travels (pioneer LGBT operator), Pride since 2010 and small but regionally pioneering LGBTQI+ scene; Gallup 2024: 87% consider Nepal a good place for gay people.
LGBTQI+ legal framework · Nepal
Social context · Nepal
Polls: limited share view Nepal as welcoming for gay residents (Gallup 2024 puts it as high as 87%) · LGBT people still face societal discrimination and conformity pressure · dominant Hinduism and Buddhism with traditionally tolerant elements
Source →Growing hate speech since April 2026 against LGBTQ+ community after Prime Minister criticized over homophobic content · family and social violence persists despite protective framework
Source →Indicative data as of 2026-06-02. Check the destination country's official sources before travelling.
Experiences
gay friendly · Nepal
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Evolution
LGBTQI+ · Nepal
Supreme Court orders the government to guarantee marriage equality
On June 18, 2026 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of marriage equality and issued a binding directive order to the government to revise the Civil Code and guarantee it (registration, adoption, inheritance), after dismissing a counter-petition. It is the court's fourth ruling on the matter; recognition remains temporary (on the 2023 registration) until the executive carries out the legislative reform.
Surge in anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech
The new Prime Minister faced LGBTQI+ criticism over homophobic content, increasing hate speech directed at the community.
Nepal's first transgender lawmaker
Bhumika Shrestha, a veteran LGBTQI+ activist, became Nepal's first transgender woman lawmaker, nominated through proportional representation by the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Marriage equality case to constitutional bench
The marriage equality case was referred to the Supreme Court's full constitutional bench; oral arguments were heard on May 14, 2026 and a final ruling remains pending, with Parliament yet to pass a permanent law.
Gender-affirming surgeries available
Gender-affirming surgeries became available in Nepal from June 2025.
Destinations
gay friendly near Nepal
If you're going to move around the region, these countries also fit on the route.
India
India decriminalized consensual same-sex activity between adults on September 6, 2018, when the Supreme Court struck down Section 377 of…
Bhutan
Bhutan decriminalized consensual same-sex relations between adults on February 17, 2021, through a Penal Code reform that repealed sections…
China
China decriminalized homosexuality in 1997 with a Penal Code reform, and it was removed from the list of mental illnesses in 2001. However…
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