Lesbianism in Sri Lanka

History

Lesbianism was not criminalized until the late 1990s. During a proposal to decriminalize homosexual sex between males, the parliament decided to actually criminalize lesbian sex. This discrimination was extended to the media when the press council refused to penalize a newspaper that had published letters spreading hate speech against lesbians.[1]

There have been no convictions against lesbians for their homosexuality in the history of the island under the current penal code (created in the 1800s and expanding in the 1990s).[2]

Culture

A number of bars and clubs exist on the island that cater exclusively to sexual minorities, including lesbians, but they are far outnumbered by mainstream bars and clubs that court sexual minorities. A handful of media productions have been made about lesbians on the island but they remain few and far between. Grass Rooted has created several theatre productions showing lesbians in a good light.[3]

Women are expected to wear a sari and it is frowned upon if they do not conform, although most of the island's organizations do not have documented dress codes.[2]

The internet is considered to be the primary method of communication between lesbians.[4]

Social issues

A number of reports suggest that lesbians feel unable to openly complain about discrimination against themselves due to the social stigma associated with their sexuality, especially the homophobia they may face in their personal lives if their sexuality were to be revealed. This allows them to be open to abuse from the police despite human rights lawyers and judicial officials stating "that police do not have any right to interfere in adults personal sexual choices".[5]

It has also been written that they also worry about the financial consequences of coming out as a lesbian, fearing that they will be shunned by their family and lose their jobs.[6] However, the government has consequently stated that several anti-discrimination laws would apply to sexuality, which may help solve the problems that lesbians face in the jobs market.[7]

A handful of nationalist movements promoting the Sinhlaese ethnolingustic groups have launched attacks at the lesbian community, protesting at major events celebrating homosexuality.[8] The influential Buddhist Asgiriya Chapter has however come out in support of equality for sexual minorities.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Anonymous (2000-06-08). "Sri Lanka: National Press Council Calls Lesbianism "An Act of Sadism"". OutRight - LGBTIQ Human Rights. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  2. 1 2 "The Status of Lesbians, Bisexual Women and Transgendered Persons in Sri Lanka" (PDF). Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
  3. ↑ "Grassrooted » What We Do". grassrooted.net. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Interview with Women's Media Collective, Sri Lanka: About lesbian tutorials and other strategies | GenderIT.org". www.genderit.org. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  5. ↑ "Sri Lankan Police Arrest a Lesbian Couple and Police justifies its Action | Sri Lanka Brief". srilankabrief.org. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  6. ↑ "Still a Crime to be Gay in Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Brief". srilankabrief.org. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  7. ↑ "Sri Lanka Keeps Homosexuality A Crime, But Bans Anti-LGBT Discrimination". LOGO News. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  8. ↑ "Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Rights in Sri Lanka – Damith Chandimal | Sri Lanka Brief". srilankabrief.org. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
  9. ↑ "Asgiriya Chapter calls for the right to equality for LGBT | Sri Lanka Brief". srilankabrief.org. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
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