Feature: First transgender person to receive passport in Nepal dreams of scaling Qomolangma

When 37-year-old Monica Shahi used to introduce self as being transgender, people would stare with questioning eyes seeking numerous proof. She used to feel tired giving countless explanations regarding her existence and identity.

However, her long struggle for identity came to an end finally on Monday afternoon when she received the state-identity as a third gender as described on her new passport.

With this, Manoj Shahi (who prefers to be called Monica Shahi) became the first person of Nepal to receive the passport under the 'Others' or 'O' category for gender. This new category has provided a new hope for the lives of the LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender and Intersexual)communities in the country.

Dressed in a long black skirt, when Shahi, received the green colored machine readable passport (MRP) from the Department of Passport, her happiness knew no bounds and started to flow in the form of tears.

"I am so glad to receive this passport that recognizes my gender after such a long struggle. This is an honor of the state. This is not only my achievement, but one for the future generations," an elated Shahi told Xinhua.

She was in the capital from Kailali, a district from the far- western development region of the Himalayan nation just to receive her life-long dream of this passport. With this passport, she wishes to fly to Thailand first, the land which recognizes or tolerates the third gender the most in Asia.

Nepal had inducted a third gender category into its census and the citizenship card only in 2011. The Supreme Court had directed the government authorities in 2007 to amend laws to end the discrimination against LGBTI citizens.

It has been only a few months since Nepal had amended the Passport Regulations to incorporate the 'O' category in the passport.

Rewati Raman Paudel, Director at the Department of Passport told Xinhua, "We have officially started issuing the passports for sexual minorities under the 'O' category. We went through a change in the software of the machine readable passport (MRP) technology to include this category."

Earlier, the government had only male 'M' or female 'F' gender categories in the passports. Beside Nepal, Australia and New Zealand are the other countries that issue passports for sexual minorities under 'X' beside male or female categories.

Meanwhile, the people from the LGBTI community have welcomed the government's latest move viewing it as an historic achievement and milestone in their movement.

"The government's latest move to include 'Other' in passport has spread happiness among the LGBTI communities. We are very happy that the government addressed our fight for existence and identity," Pinky Gurung, chairperson of the Blue Diamond Society, an organization working for sexual minorities in Nepal told Xinhua.

There are altogether 103 people from the LGBTI communities who have acquired the citizenship through 'O' category till date. Now, all those can apply and acquire a separate passport matching their identity.

The sexual minorities suffer different sorts of social discrimination in this South Asian society as they are mistreated as inferior both at home and outside.

Hailing from a remote district, Shahi too went through similar struggles as she was compelled to drop-out from her school owing to discrimination from classmates and teachers.

"I suffered a lot and I was even beaten by my family members when I talked about my identity. Now, I have been able to introduce myself proudly as a social activist and transgender individual," Shahi said gleaming.

She said her dream is to climb the world's highest peak, Qomolangma, as the first transgender person and make a new record in the Guinness Book of Records.

Beside the Qomolangma dream, this parentless lady has an ambition to advocate for same-sex marriages in the country.

As to whether she currently has a special person in her life, she shyly smiled and shared, "Whenever, I used to be attracted to men, I used to mention this topic only in very private circles due to the fear of social reprisals. Now, I can say openly and in public I do have someone special in my life." Endi