Signal honour for her long struggle
25 years of dedicated activism
Dressed in checked shirt and shorts, Rosanna Flamer-Caldera exudes that breezy confidence that makes her a role model not only for lesbian women but also gays, transgender people, the bisexual, the questioning, the intersexual and the asexual. In her house in Borella, things are pretty spartan as we sit down to talk about her being named this week as one of the Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people for 2024- a rare distinction.
Rosanna started Equal Ground in 2004- so the rainbow-hued organisation is 20 this year, but her activism goes beyond that. The current accolade recognises 25 years of work, fighting for decriminalisation of the community as well as gaining equality for them.
Though a drag king once who now and then donned top hat and tails, Rosanna is a fierce activist who doesn’t mind taking to the road (occasionally with her charismatic sister Tammy who is a trustee of Equal Ground) leading her organisation.
In 2018, she filed a case with the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the UN and in 2022 the convention ruled in her favour.
Crusader for LGBTQIA: Rosanna Flamer Caldera. Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera
“One of the things they requested the government was to decriminalise same-sex relationships between adults which was a landmark and global victory for LB women in particular. Maybe that also contributed to this recognition.”
Soon after the CEDAW decision, a Private Members’ bill on the same issue was put to Parliament, but “politicians and the government have been dragging their feet on it,” says Rosanna.
“They’ve been passing the buck to various people saying ‘oh, we need to hear from this person, that person. But the bottom line is, it should be put to Parliament for a vote, and should be passed by a simple majority. I think the government is reluctant because there is so much homophobia within the government.”
When Rosanna founded Equal Ground, two main aspirations were on the table. Firstly, to sensitise and educate the LGBTQIA community on what they are.
“There was a lot of feeling of — ‘oh they are telling us we are freaks and sick- and maybe we are…’. And all of us have gone through this anxiety of coming out- ‘what will our parents think? How will our friends take it?’ And so forth.”
Equal Ground decided to focus on encouraging LGBTQIA persons to stand tall and be proud and be who they are.
The second prong was to make non-LGBTQIA people strong allies of the community and “learn who we are and what we are – to educate them on what makes a person a lesbian, a gay man, or a transgender. Because people tend to just pass comments or judgment on something they don’t understand.”
Ultimately there was a ‘huge shift’ once the plan was put to action in how people view the LGBTQIA community. “A very much wider following of allies and friends, because this journey could never be fulfilled unless there were people supporting us.”
Says Rosanna of the people behind her, “I could not have done it without a number of people who have supported me and helped me on my journey. I have to thank my family especially my mother (golfing legend Mystica) who was the most influential person in my life… and my sister who watched my back.
“And all the people who worked with Equal Ground. All our allies and friends – those people are the ones I should thank for what I’ve received today…”
Searching for an ideal partner? Find your soul mate on Hitad.lk, Sri Lanka's favourite marriage proposals page. With Hitad.lk matrimonial advertisements you have access to thousands of ads from potential suitors who are looking for someone just like you.