Fridae

In an article that highlights some of the more unexpected places where conditions for LGBT are improving, developments in Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam are highlighted.

Nepal made history last year when it became the first in Asia to recognise a third gender on passports. The landmark decision allows transgenders to mark their passports with an O if they do not wish to identify as M or F.

In September 2015 the country enshrined protections for LGBT in it's constitution. Instrumental in this was Sunil Babu Pant, a rights campaigner and Nepal's first openly gay MP.

LGBT activists are celebrating this month after the election of a new president who openly supports same-sex marriage.

It's hugely positive for us is that our newly-elected president personally supports same-sex marriage but it's still not clear whether the marriage equality bill will become law," adds Victoria Hsu, chief executive officer of the Taiwan Alliance to Promote Civil Partnership Rights.

In the last few months, a total of four Taiwanese cities have opened household registration to same-sex couples, allowing for equal rights in hospital and other services. The Taiwanese capital Taipei's annual gay pride parade is the largest gay event in Asia.

It has now been a year since Vietnam allowed same-sex marriage, though many activists suggest that it is merely tolerated and that discrimination is still widespread.

In December 2015 Vietnam passed a law that allows individuals who have undergone surgery to register under a new gender. This was met with muted enthusiasm by transgenders who feel they should not be forced to undergo surgery to change gender.