After several attempts, Bhumika Shrestha, a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) society, has finally acquired citizenship under ‘other’ category from the District Administration Office Kathmandu on Monday.

This is the first time the Kathmandu district office has issued a citizenship card under this category.

Shrestha expressed mixed feelings after receiving her new citizenship card. “I am happy that my dream of obtaining a citizenship card as per my sexual orientation is realised. But my wish of changing my name in the card is still unfilled,” said Shrestha.

The new citizenship card carries Shrestha’s old name Kailash.

Shrestha, citing problems regarding buying and transferring property, job placement and acquiring passport that arose with a woman carrying citizenship of a male, had been trying to change her citizenship card since 2007.

Shrestha’s citizenship was changed from male to ‘other’ after filing papers to prove that Kailash Shrestha of Naikap and transgender woman Shrestha are the same person. Shrestha, a politician advocating right of sexual minorities came to fame when she won the first beauty pageant organised by Blue Diamond Society for transgender woman, said her next step will be to obtain a passport as under ‘other’ category.

She is the 25th person to acquire citizenship under ‘other’ category.