Comic book to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Sri Lanka

A new graphic novel, highlighting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Sri Lanka, has been released by Amnesty International.

Artists Gimhani Galagedera, Madhri Samaranayake, Shenuka Corea and Akiel Surajdeen collaborated with Amnesty to create the comic book, Spectrum: Four Stories of Discrimination Faced by LGBTI People, which tells four true stories of how LGBTQ+ people in Sri Lanka have suffered discrimination and violence in their daily lives, from workplace bullying to police harassment.

Rehab Mahamoor, Research Assistant at Amnesty International, said: “Being persecuted for sexual orientation or gender identity has no place in our world today – and yet individuals in Sri Lanka continue to face discrimination, abuse and a complete lack of protection for their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Individuals must not be discriminated on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but Sri Lanka has made little to no progress towards setting aside the laws that do.

“A safer environment for LGBTQ+ people must be created before the situation in Sri Lanka deteriorates further.

“The laws that prevent that from happening must be repealed, and protections that help uphold the rights of LGBTQ+ people should be put in place without delay.”

Read the full report and comic book here: