After ongoing efforts and advocacy on behalf of the LGBTI community, BDS is pleased with the Central Bureau of Statistics’ decision to incorporate a ‘third gender’ option in its 2020 census. The Bureau has reversed its earlier decision to exclude LGBTIs from the questionnaire, citing difficulty in obtaining this information from families that may be reluctant to share this information publicly.
Although a third gender option was included in the 2011 census, only 1,500 third gender people were identified and the bureau didn’t publish a report on the number of third gender people, as per the request of BDS and the LGBTI community. Including a third gender option in this year’s census will help the government to better document the number of LGBTI people in Nepal. Thus, BDS and other advocacy groups and NGOs can improve services for target communities.
“We had suggested the inclusion of a questionnaire on LGBTIs in two separate categories— sexual minorities and transgender,” said Manisha Dhakal, the executive director of BDS.
But according to Dhundiraj Lamichhane, the director of the census bureau, the census will only gather information on ‘third genders.’ He indicated that another survey will be conducted in the future to further disaggregate the LGBTIQ community.
“If the census produces a low number of LGBTIs because of people not speaking up, we will be disappointed, but accept the results. It will also give us the energy to make further efforts to ensure that our communities open up about their sexes,” said Dhakal.
Read more about the 2020 census decision here.