Meti, not to be confused with the Métis people of Canada, is a third gender from Nepali culture. They are feminine displaying in male-born bodies and can be compared to a lunarian or another form of feminine non-binary.
History
Metis became an officially recognized third gender in the country of Nepal as of a Supreme Court ruling in 2007.[1] Metis are now officially recognized by the Nepalese government and are able to have government-issued ID cards that list "both" as an option under "gender."
Discrimination
Before the Supreme Court ruling, meti individuals were regularly arrested for "spreading perversion."[2] In Nepal, "unnatural sex" is still illegal despite the progressive inclusion of a third-gender on registration forms.[3]
The HIV epidemic within Nepal is especially common amongst the meti community.[4] The reason for this can be attributed to the unique struggle that meti face finding employment and acceptance in society. Many meti are pushed into the sex-industry working as prostitutes and are unwelcome in any other roles in society.
Flag
The first known appearance of the meti flag was on August 14, 2020, although the creator is unknown.[5] The flag is the rainbow flag with the Nepali flag on the left hand side.
References
- ↑ Scholarly article analyzing the Supreme Court ruling and its effects for Emory International Law Review.
- ↑ Condemnation of violence in Nepal in 2004 by the editorial staff at Outright International.
- ↑ Article in Aljazeera on meti acceptance in Nepal seven years after the Supreme Court ruling.
- ↑ Scholarly article "Stigma and HIV risk among Metis in Nepal" for journal Culture, Health & Sexuality.
- ↑ Wattpad story with a collection of flags, including the meti flag.