The government has already directed the Supreme Court to give us, people of third gender, a separate citizenship certificate. However, not a single district administration office throughout Nepal has issued such a certificate. I myself have left an application at the office, asking to amend my citizenship status.

My name is Kailash Shrestha in the citizenship certificate I received four years ago. I only want my gender to be changed to 'third gender'. But the CDO says I should get a new citizenship certificate. My date of birth will remain the same, my address will remain the same, my father's name will remain the same. The only thing different in this new certificate will be my gender. Now my question is: why do I have to get a new one when all the other information on the card is the same? I am sure it is not just me, but other third-gender friends who are facing the same problem.

People do not molest and assault us as they used to in the past. More people at decision-making levels, in civil society, the administration, and among donors know about us and accept us. But people still think that those who stand around in Thamel late at night waiting for customers are the only people of third gender in Nepal. The biggest problem the third gender faces is unemployment. This is why so many of them have had to resort to working as sex workers.