![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
You are in: World: South Asia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
![]() |
Wednesday, 23 May, 2001, 16:14 GMT 17:14 UK
Sri Lanka gay group denounces attacks
![]() By Frances Harrison in Colombo
An association representing the gay and lesbian community in Sri Lanka says its members have been subjected to horrible, inhuman, indecent and vicious treatment in the five years since it was established.
When the group first set up its office, there were death threats. "People stoned our offices and three of our members including myself were assaulted," said the group's executive director, Sherman de Rose. Five years on, they have 1,400 registered members and they say their Colombo drop-in centre receives at least 15 visitors a day - despite the social stigma surrounding homosexuality. Assisting government The drop-in centres, which they say were the first to be set up in South Asia, offer counselling, make-up classes, shelter, education and health advice to the gay, lesbian and bisexual community. The organisation has also begun working with the Ministry of Health on its outreach programme, distributing free condoms at gay meeting places. It has also held a series of dialogues with sympathetic decision makers. Homosexuality remains illegal in Sri Lanka under a colonial law dating back more than 100 years - but no one has been prosecuted for the last 50 years. Homophobia However, lesbian and gay activists say the mere presence of the law encourages blackmail and homophobia. The most blatant example of that occurred last year, when Sri Lankan lesbians said they were planning to hold a national conference. One major newspaper printed a letter from a man who suggested convicted rapists should be set free among the lesbians to give them what he called a taste of the real thing. Companions on a Journey challenged the newspaper's decision to print the letter in an appeal to the Press Council - but lost. |
![]() |
See also:
![]() Internet links:
![]() The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top South Asia stories now:
![]() ![]() Links to more South Asia stories are at the foot of the page.
![]() |
![]() |
Links to more South Asia stories
|
![]() |
![]() |
^^ Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |