Maya, a 20-year-old from Sri Lanka, was assaulted by four men simply for being gay, highlighting the severe discrimination faced by the LGBT community under colonial-era laws that criminalize homosexuality. These laws, still in effect, discourage victims from seeking help from authorities. As per rights lawyer Aritha Wickramasinghe, these laws disproportionately target LGBT individuals. Maya's experience is compounded by social ostracism and mental health challenges, leading to feelings of hopelessness. Others, like performance artist Kannan Sathurshan, express frustration over their inability to live openly, reflecting a broader societal struggle for acceptance and rights.
"When other people go and tell my family members, 'How can a man behave like this?' I feel really upset. I've even attempted suicide, that's how disturbed I was."
"As a gay man, I can't be open about who I am... when they see that even I'm not able to live honestly, it affects them."
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