Description

In the context that the government has indicated their support to proposed decriminalisation of homosexuality, there were internal divisions among LGBTIQ+ groups on how they could accommodate anti-government sentiments within the movement. These divisions became public during the pride celebrations. The Generation Pride, a group which organised the historic pride march during last year’s Aragalaya, also conducted a pride parade this year under the name of Freedom Pride Parade, an intersectional pride which carried many slogans and posters that were critical of government, advocating for more broader range of issues impacting LGBTIQ+ community beyond the demand for decriminalisation of homosexuality. Few days after the Freedom Pride Parade, Executive Director of Equal Ground Rosanna Flamer Caldera speaking to the Morning newspaper said the presence of an Aragalaya group in the pride parade they are organising would not be tolerated and that any such protesters would be asked to leave. Aragalaya group refers to those who participated in last year’s anti-government protests. She further added Colombo Pride walk would be a peaceful celebration of gay pride, dissociating it from any protests or demands for rights, and it would include participation from diplomats, school children with their parents, and corporate representatives alongside members of the LGBTQ+ community. After these comments were widely criticised in social media by activists, Equal Ground issued a statement clarifying that their comments were misinterpreted, and highlighting their support towards Aragalaya. In response to this, Generation Pride, the Aragalaya activists group that organised the Freedom Pride parade also issued another statement highlighting their stance, and explaining nuances on the matter. This incident though seems like an internal issue between two groups, broadly it indicates emerging trends of pinkwashing of the government within the queer rights movement in Sri Lanka.