Nepal's first transgender lawmaker is just getting started

Bhumika Shrestha has made history in Nepal as the country's first transgender Member of Parliament, bringing two decades of advocacy for sexual and gender minorities into the legislature. In her first three months, Shrestha has already made a significant impact, notably as a member of the parliamentary Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee. There, she was instrumental in the symbolic renaming of the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens to the Ministry of Women, Children, Gender and Sexual Minorities and Social Security.

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I didn’t know the name itself would change. I was also surprised.

Shrestha expressed surprise at the extent of the name change, a sentiment that seems to echo her broader experience in navigating Nepal's democratic landscape. Her tenure highlights a persistent tension between progressive court rulings and the slow pace of institutional change, and the gap between symbolic recognition and the achievement of substantive rights. This dynamic is reflected in her personal journey, which began with early struggles for self-acceptance and recognition.

From childhood, Shrestha faced ridicule and harassment for not conforming to gender norms. She recalls being laughed at in school for concepts like "neuter gender" and enduring humiliation from male students in bathrooms, leading her to avoid drinking water during school days to prevent such encounters. This period of isolation and misunderstanding, she states, contributed to her current kidney stone condition. The lack of understanding extended to her family, who, she realized, had expected her to transition to manhood, and their tolerance waned when this did not occur.

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As soon as I saw her, I recognised her, I recognised her as trans. She seemed a bit scared and uncomfortable; she didn’t know the details about the community yet. She was a child, unaware of the LGBTQIA+ community and hadn’t met any peers.

Her path to self-understanding and community began when Pinky Gurung, outreach coordinator for the Blue Diamond Society (Nepal's LGBTIQ rights organization), recognized her as transgender while she was waiting at Ratna Park. Gurung described Shrestha as appearing scared and uncomfortable, still unaware of the broader LGBTQIA+ community and having not yet met peers. This encounter marked a pivotal moment, connecting Shrestha with resources and a community that could offer support and understanding.

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I felt like I was the only person in the world whose biological body and mental identity were different.