http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=062817397ed50a0236418d077161b29e

"Nepal Goes Queer Friendly
Sandip Roy

From assassinations to broken ceasefires, South Asia has seen its share of flashpoints in 2007. But if there was one point of light, it has come from an unexpected source - Nepal.

Not so long ago, Nepal threatened to implode - an unpopular monarch, resurgent Maoists, protesters on the street. But on Nov. 21, 2007, the Nepalese Supreme Court ordered the government to end discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersexed people and amend all laws that discriminate against them. It even appointed a seven-member committee to study international practice on same-sex marriage. In one stroke, the Supreme Court did something remarkable - it recognized its LGBTI citizens as "natural persons." This in a country where not that long ago, gay activists were arrested for carrying condoms."