Sri Lanka – The Islander Activist

Udayan has a tête-à-tête with Rosanna, head of Sri Lanka’s LGBT Rights group Equal Ground. An astute and determined lady, she is now at the forefront of the gay rights struggle in that country. Having spent several years in the US, she returned to find a country ravaged by war and hatred. For her the battle for equality is both personal and deeply ideological.

Recently the Sri Lankan Prime Minister gave a public statement saying that he might consider the concerns of LGBT Sri Lankans. Does that make you hopeful for change?

We are always hopeful for change! A lot of hard work has gone into actually getting this response from the government. This year we decided that we must engage the media in our pride celebrations which were over a 1 month period. The positive response we received was really gratifying. All of the newspapers that covered our events and the TV station that supported us throughout pride gave us positive coverage. Key to this was also the support we received from the British High Commission, The Dutch and Norwegian Embassies who directly supported pride financially and in kind. Their presence at all the pride events for example, and here I would also like to acknowledge the overwhelming presence from the US Embassy, also helped make this a bona fide event and a bona fide request that our rights and our issues be addressed.

Had the war been one of the reasons why gay rights were never considered till now? Have things changed for the better since the war ended?

It was never just only the war although that was one of the excuses we always heard. There should be no excuse now since the war is over, however there will always be something for people to think that our rights are really not as important as other people’s rights. No, we haven’t seen things change for the better since the war has ended, but there is less tension in the country for sure and there is a serious effort being made to address people’s rights. As for LGBT persons, they face the same discrimination whether there is a war or not!

Has the Delhi High Court judgement made any impact in Sri lanka?

At first we thought perhaps there would be a huge impact, but again, no one other than us, thinks it’s important enough. However, having said that, I believe in a way, people do think about that judgement, and do feel that we should follow suit. Unfortunately, these folks are not in the majority! It is just so difficult to engage our government in a way that does not jeopardize anything. But we will always try of course!

How is Equal Ground making a difference? Your group has been very active, organizing fashion shows, and gay pride…

Colombo pride is just the tip of the iceberg really. It is something we do each year to make visible gay issues and the gay community. This year we had the impact we have been working hard to get all these years. We also work in the grass roots mainly, sensitising and educating. We also offer a help line for LGBT persons, we offer legal aid to LGBT persons who require it. We also produce publications which help educate people and sensitize them to issues. We lobby on legal issues such as 365A (just like your 377) and we provide a safe space for LGBTIQ persons to meet and interact without fear. We hold extracurricular activities at our safe space as well and we are part of the regional and worldwide LGBT movement as well. Our current project involves sensitising, researching and documenting violence against LB women in the rural areas. So we are not just about pride!

What are the main issues –politically and socially- that concern LGBTs in Sri Lanka today?

These are the same issues that have faced us for many, many years…nothing new. Marginalisation, Discrimination, violence…these are all issues that never seem to go away no matter how much we educate and sensitise. But this unfortunately is the nature of the beast! We just have to try harder, work harder to at least make some lives liveable without the fear and the need to be invisible. If we touch even one person and make his or her life better, then we achieve our goals one step at a time.

Who are you main adversaries?

There are so many, but I would say the extremist religious and nationalistic types are perhaps our biggest adversaries. But they are all over the world aren’t they? To a lesser degree our adversaries also come from within our own LGBT community. This is sad to say, but unfortunately true.

Sri Lanka is a pre-dominantly Buddhist country. Do you see any religious opposition to gay rights?

As answered above. Last year we were under threat from Muslim extremists. The Nationalistic Sinhala Buddhist movement thinks that homosexuality is a product of the West. So, no matter how hard you try and prove to them that homosexuality is natural and indigenous, they will think and act according to their will.

What about Tamil gays? Do you think they’re being accommodated well within Sri Lankan gay communities?

I think they are, but they are much more closeted and invisible than others. It is always very difficult for us to do outreach to the Tamil LGBT persons as they are very, very shy to be out or acknowledge their sexuality, even to themselves. I hope that one day that will change and that they will join in the LGBT movement of Sri Lanka – as proud brothers and sisters.