Contributor:
Rosanna Flamer-Caldera
Executive Director, EQUAL GROUND, Sri Lanka
HERO Awards Recipient: 2022 Community Hero
What does “At the Heart of Democracy” mean to you?
For me, “At the Heart of Democracy” means ensuring every member of society, regardless of sexuality, gender identity or expression has a seat at the table. It is the commitment to building an inclusive community where equality, dignity, and respect are safeguarded for everyone, particularly those who have been historically marginalised like the LGBTIQ community.
What is one barrier LGBTQI+ people still face in fully participating in society or decision-making in your country?
The criminalisation of same sex intimacy in my country Sri Lanka, places all LGBTIQ+ people at risk and turns others against them just for being who they are. It gives rise to homophobia, transphobia, injustice, unfair treatment and discrimination.
What change or action would you like to see happen for LGBTQI+ communities moving forward in your country?
I would like to see my country remove criminalising laws against the LGBTIQ+ community and put in place policies that include and celebrate all citizens of Sri Lanka.
What message would you like to share for IDAHOBIT 2026?
LGBTIQ communities across the world are facing rising homophobia and marginalisation. We must urge our governments to take the correct path and stand by their election promises. They want our votes but they don’t want our rights! We need to change that narrative.
About Rosanna:
Rosanna Flamer-Caldera is a pioneering LGBTIQ activist. She began her activism in 1999 by co-founding the Women Support Group (WSG), the first organisation in Sri Lanka exclusively dedicated to lesbian and bisexual women. In 2004, she founded EQUAL GROUND (EG), now recognised as Sri Lanka’s oldest and most diverse LGBTIQ organisation. A landmark achievement in her legal advocacy came in August 2018, when she filed a case with the CEDAW Committee, challenging Sri Lanka’s criminalisation of same-sex relationships between women. The committee ruled in her favour in 2022. She was recognised as TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024. She was awarded the APCOM Community Hero Award in 2022 and the Zonta Woman of Achievement Award for Social Impact in Sri Lanka in 2017.
