Colombo LGBT community lights candles for Orlando, Bangladesh

By Shiran Illanperuma

The Sri Lankan LGBT community and straight allies on Tuesday held a candlelight vigil to commemorate the victims of the recent Orlando shooting and attacks on LGBT activists in Bangladesh.

The vigil held at the Goethe institute was organised by Equal Ground – a non-profit that campaigns for the rights of the LGBT community in Sri Lanka.

Equal Ground Executive Director Rosanna Flamer Caldera said, “This candle light vigil is in support of those not only in Orlando but also for our activist friends in Bangladesh who were hacked to death less than a month ago.”

“We’re very saddened and the entire community here sends their love and support to the families of those who were lost in these senseless attacks,” she added.

“It’s important to show people that we will hold our heads high regardless if we are attacked tomorrow.”

Sri Lanka’s LGBT community has not seen large scale assaults like the USA and neighbouring South Asian countries however the legal status of the LGBT community remains dubious with colonial era laws banning same-sex activity.

“Our community has been violated for the last 135 years through the legal system and social exclusion,” said Caldera who also expressed hope that the new constitution would be more accommodating if not progressive with regards to the grievances of the LGBT community.

“Homophobia and hate is something we really need to eradicate. It’s time that people were able to see beyond a sexual orientation and gender identity and see a person for who they are.”

     Pix by Geethika Talukdar