Nepal has issued its first third gender passport

Nepal issued its first passport for sexual minorities this week, reported the Kathmandu Post.

The South Asian country, which has a remarkably progressive track record in LGBT rights, amended passport regulations at the start of this year to add a third gender category for LGBT citizens, marked with an “O” for “others”.

To obtain such a passport, an applicant must already hold a citizenship certificate under the “O” category. That category has been an option for Nepali census and citizenship cards since 2011.

The only other countries offering passports with an alternative sex category are Australia and New Zealand, which designate sexual minorities with an “x”.

According to the Himalayan Times, Nepal’s first third gender passport belongs to Manoj Shahi, a transgender woman who now goes by Monica Shahi. She has been notified that her passport is ready for collection.

Shahi told the Himalayan Times she was thankful that the government recognised her gender identity in her new passport. “This is a very welcoming move. It is a huge recognition for all sexual minorities of Nepal,” she said.