Bhumika Shrestha: Advocating for rights and equality of gender minority

From an early age, Bhumika Shrestha had a fascination with makeup and other traditionally “feminine” pursuits. She likes hanging out with girls and develops crushes on boys. 

For the most part of her adolescent life, she felt confused and guilty for having feminine emotions and the body of a boy. When she was in tenth grade, she was expelled from school for affirming her sexual identity. Though the incident prevented Bhumika from pursuing higher studies, it was a liberating experience. It was then she resolved to dedicate her life to help the queer community. 

Today, Shrestha, 35, is a proud trans woman and a prominent LGBTQIA+ activist. She now works as a project manager for Blue Diamond Society, an organization that works for the gender minority community. Under her leadership, she has improved the conditions of transgender community by advocating for citizenship rights, marriage equality, and job opportunities.

After joining the Blue Diamond Society, she learned about the harrowing experiences of queer  people, including abuse, family abandonment, and humiliation. Their suffering ignited within her a passion to take action on behalf of the trans community.

Bhumika considers herself lucky, as her family always supported her. But she couldn’t escape society’s judgments. “Back then, I used to hide in my room out of fear of how people would perceive me,” she says.

Currently, Bhumika collaborates with various government bodies, policymaking institutions, and law enforcement agencies to improve sexual health, human rights, and the well-being of gender minorities.  In 2007, she competed in a trans beauty pageant, winning the title of ‘Miss Pink.’ This gave her greater opportunities to advocate for the transgender community. 

However, she faced the absurdity of having to identify herself as male in her citizenship document, despite representing herself internationally as a trans woman. Back then, the citizenship certificate bore only two gender categories: male and female. 

“I was dressed up in a woman’s outfit, but I had to change and wear a Dhaka Topi as male for my citizenship photo,” she says. 

This experience urged Bhumika to launch a campaign in 2007 to change the outdated requirements imposed on Nepal’s citizenship law, and the Supreme Court ruled that individuals can be identified as ‘other gender’ on citizenship. 

Bhumika became the first Nepali trans woman to travel internationally with an ‘others’  identity in her citizenship document. Later, she updated her document from ‘others’ to ‘female.’

Nepal has made progress in recognizing non-binary communities and has legalized same-sex marriage, Bhumika is still critical of th gap between policy formulation and implementation.  For instance, the court’s order to register same-sex marriage has not been practically enforced. Then there is a bizarre requirement for medical evidence of identity to obtain citizenship as a transgender. 

“Such outdated expectations are stifling the true emotions and aspirations of LGBTIQA+ persons,” says Bhumika.

She shares  the heart-wrenching realities of her friends who suffered discrimination and abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading some to tragically end their lives. The Blue Diamond Society was their only lifeline at the time. 

“The majority of our funding  comes from international donors such as USAID and UNDP. The government is not concerned at all,” says Bhumika. 

She expects the government to ensure equal opportunities and greater political representation for the queer community.

Over the years, the concept of gender in Nepal has expanded beyond homosexuality, there is still a long way to go when it comes to ensuring the rights of LGBTIQA+ community. Individuals like Bhumika and organizations like the Blue Diamond Society have been working tirelessly to ensure the rights and representation of queer community. 

For her unrelenting activism, Bhumika was honored with the ‘International Women of Courage Award’ by the United States Department of State. She was also listed in the ‘100 Most Influential People in Global Policy’ in 2019, and feted with a national award.

“Being a trans woman has given me courage and strength,” she says. 

For her the most difficult challenge is changing society's perception on how individuals are expected to behave in accordance with their biological gender roles. But she remains optimistic. 

“I really appreciate how the young people of today are more aware of the power of activism and how they are more accepting of gender minority communities,” says Bhumika. 

This shifting awareness and acceptance gives her hope that there is a better future for LGBTIQA+ community in Nepal.