Nepal to Allow 'Other' Gender on Official IDs

A view of Nepal's capital, Kathmandu.

The government of Nepal announced this week that it will allow citizens to choose “other” as the gender option, rather than male or female, on official ID cards.

LGBT activists in the nation welcomed the decision, which implements a ruling made by Nepal’s Supreme Court in 2007, reports wire service Deutsche Presse-Agentur. It will help transgender people as well as others who suffer discrimination because their appearance does not match the gender listed on their citizenship cards, they said.

“Our community feels we are finally being granted an identity by the state, and my friends have told me they feel proud about it,” said Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s first openly gay legislator.

The change will take effect in a few weeks, said officials with Nepal’s Home Ministry.