Thirteen years back, in 2007, Nepal legalised homosexuality.
In september 2015, the country’s new constitution approved the rights to opt between three genders when availing a citizenship – male, female, or other.
Owing to the above two, Nepal should have made significant progress in LGBTQ+ Rights – but it seems our society is unconcerned about the legal status of the minority community.
It remains firm- it does not accommodote or accept (most of the times).
We live in a judgemental society where people think that two people being in a physical relationship between the same gender is a crime. Society is not willing to accept it. It can be safely assumed that all this happens due to lack of an inclusive approach to sex education. People believe it is a disease, but in face, lesbianism/gayism is extremely natural.
Gender binarism dicatates several aspects of our society – a girl has to marry a boy, and vice-versa. It is difficult for several to fathom that a boy can fall in love with a boy, or a girl can have feelings for a girl. Some people may be bisexual too, where they are attracted to males and females. It’s not a crime. A homosexual person shouldn’t have to hide, worry and be ashamed about it. When a girl or a boy reaches into the ‘appropriate age’ to get married, why don’t our parents ask about their interest? Why do they think that a marriage should be between a girl and a boy only? Why don’t they show any interest towards understanding the will of their children? If anyone in a family says “I am gay”, then parents act like a great disaster has fallen upon them. .
They start to assume that “someone has put wrong ideas into their children’s head”. They never try to know the real pain of their child. And unwillingly s/he gets ready to be married as per societal rules for their parents’ happiness. As a result s/he cannot make his each other happy, either physically or mentally, and their relation ends up in paper.
In this way, most parents ruin their own child’s happiness and the life. Though LGBT rights are legally recognised, people still hesitate to open up. There is a fine line between society and the LGBTQI – and the fine line is fear.
Due to this fear, homosexual people hesitate to speak for their rights. It is their right to choose a life partner whether it’s a boy or a girl. Families must accept the fact that love is universal. Love is about feelings, and usually people do not have a choice in such issues. It just happens. Love is love, it transcends gender binarism.
If there is no love between two people then that is not a relationship. That is an agreement or a compromise – a compromise to live together to make their parents happy and to shut the mouth of the society.
Homosexuality is a natural variation in human sexuality. For the sake of everyone’s happiness, let’s empower them, and educate ourselves. Let’s open our minds and teach our parents about homosexuality – about their feelings, love and freedom of choice.
Lets not be judgemental – let’s accept the fact that they are in love, and be happy about it.
