Political parties continue to overlook our agenda: gender and sexual minorities

Kathmandu, Feb 15: Gender and sexual minorities have said that they realised the need to unite politically by forming their own party, as existing political parties both fringe and mainstream have consistently overlooked their presence and concerns.

 According to them, the failure of major parties to provide space in the upcoming elections has compelled them to establish a separate party and contest independently.

At a press meet here today organized by Mayako Pahichan Nepal, an association of LGBTIQ+ individuals, the proportional representation (PR) candidates for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections 2026 said that, although the Constitution guarantees the proportional representation of gender and sexual minorities in all state institutions, including their right to political participation, political parties continue to ignore this provision.

It is noted that a total of six candidates from gender and sexual minorities are contesting the HoR elections 2026.

Pinki Rai from Okhaldhunga-1 claimed that if given the opportunity to serve as lawmakers, they will continue advocating for the causes of their community. “The constitutional rights intended for sexual and gender minorities are yet to be fully implemented,” Rai said.

Surendra Pandey from Kathmandu-1 added, “Sexual and gender minorities have so far been treated merely as a vote bank by political parties, which have never recognized their needs in political or electoral agendas.” Pandey, who identifies as gay, expressed that individuals like him have endured a vicious cycle of discrimination, preventing them from living fully as human beings. “Now, we are determined to fight for our rights and secure representation in Parliament.”

The political identity of sexual and gender minorities as voters has largely remained in the shadows, as many are still hesitant to openly express their identities, it is said at the programme.

Sunil Babu Pant, executive director of Mayako Pahichan and the first parliamentarian (CA) member from the gender and sexual minority community, criticized political parties for failing to acknowledge and internalize the existence and political rights of gender and sexual minorities. As a result, this community continues to face barriers in accessing state mechanisms. “Politics is a means of transforming society, and this community is campaigning to assert its existence and identities through political participation,” he asserted.