Stories of Change: Building Queer Solidarity and Advocacy in Sri Lanka

Since 2019, Équité, a grassroots LGBTQIA+ organisation in Sri Lanka, has been working to transform the experiences of young queer people across the country. Backed by KIOS from the start, Équité launched the Changemakers Project — an ambitious initiative designed to empower LGBTQIA+ youth, build safe spaces for connection and support, and increase the visibility and leadership of queer people in public life.

In a context where conversations about gender identity and sexual orientation are still widely stigmatised and queer youth often live in isolation, the Changemakers Project has become a vital lifeline. It has not only equipped young people with the knowledge and tools to navigate their identities safely but also fostered new leaders who now play active roles in Sri Lanka’s human rights and LGBTQIA+ movements.

You can read about Équité’s earlier work in our 2024 feature article here.

What Is the Changemakers Project?

At its core, the Changemakers Project’s objective is to strengthen the capacity of young queer people in Sri Lanka to advocate for their rights, take up leadership positions, and participate in public life safely and confidently. The project specifically aimed to fill the gaps in knowledge, support, and visibility identified by Équité in 2019 — especially for young people outside major urban centres.

As Équité’s Chairperson Thushara Manoj explained, “Most of the young queer people, even those in leadership roles, didn’t know what it meant to be part of the queer community. Many were closeted, unsure of their identity, and dealing with enormous stress and anger.”

From Connection to Advocacy

The project began by identifying young queer people in seven provinces across Sri Lanka. Équité’s team travelled from region to region, bringing together queer youth from often isolated areas, creating the first opportunities many had ever had to connect with others like themselves. These early gatherings provided a safe environment for young people to explore their identities, learn about their rights, and begin building support systems.

 

An important part of this work involved educating queer youth about identity and self-understanding, as well as how to access legal protections and support. This included workshops on how to navigate coming out to family and friends, manage the stress and trauma of living in a hostile environment, and seek help when needed. In 2021, Équité launched Sri Lanka’s first-ever 24/7 LGBTQIA+ helpline, offering confidential, year-round crisis and peer support.

At the same time, the organisation introduced a public awareness initiative called the “Do You Know?” campaign, aimed at addressing myths, stigma, and legal rights awareness within the queer community itself. This campaign helped queer youth understand that they were not alone, that being LGBTQIA+ is not an illness, and that protections do exist — including the right to report discrimination and harassment to the National Human Rights Commission. The campaign also trained queer community members to help others navigate these processes.

These activities laid the groundwork for a second phase that began in 2023. Having built a network of connected, supported queer youth, Équité shifted its focus to developing their skills as human rights defenders. Through a series of training-of-trainers (ToT) programmes, the Changemakers Project equipped young queer leaders with knowledge of human rights mechanisms at both national and international levels, practical advocacy skills, and the tools to safely mobilise and support their peers.

 

The trainings also prepared them for the risks and challenges human rights defenders often face in Sri Lanka. To strengthen this work, Équité partnered with national institutions, including the National Policy Academy and the University of Colombo, adding further credibility and reach to the programme.

Crucially, Équité didn’t stop with training queer youth alone. In the same provinces, they ran awareness programmes for teachers, healthcare workers, local officials, and other community stakeholders. This dual-track strategy ensured that queer youth weren’t just empowered individually but also embedded in safer, more informed communities. Trained queer youth were directly linked with these supportive allies, forming new, practical systems of solidarity and protection.

Impact: Growing a Movement and Shifting Spaces

The Changemakers Project’s outcomes over the past five years have been remarkable. Since 2019, more than 540 young LGBTQIA+ people have been actively engaged in leadership development, advocacy, and rights-based work through Équité’s programmes. Of particular note is the connection of 77 Tamil-speaking queer youth to advocacy networks — a milestone achievement in a country where regional, ethnic, and linguistic divisions have historically isolated many communities. While the primary focus was queer rights, these new networks naturally fostered connections and cooperation across divided communities.

In 2025, the strength of this movement was on full display when 257 young queer volunteers, many of them Changemakers alumni, organised one of Sri Lanka’s most successful and community-led Pride programmes. From building the agenda and programme to handling logistics, catering, and guest services, these young leaders ran the event independently, proving how far the community had come in both capacity and confidence.

 

Another important outcome has been the diversification of Sri Lanka’s queer movement. Historically dominated by gay and lesbian voices, today’s advocacy spaces are notably more inclusive of trans men, non-binary people, and others previously marginalised within the community. As Thushara Manoj put it, “It’s about helping people find their space, find their identity, and find their voice.”

Beyond Advocacy: Creating Pathways for the Future

Équité’s support for young queer people extends well beyond public advocacy. Through its growing networks, the organisation connects queer youth to job opportunities with inclusive employers and NGOs, provides access to healthcare services — including gender-affirming procedures in India where services are more accessible — and offers peer-led mental health support. This holistic, community-based approach ensures that young queer people in Sri Lanka not only survive but have the chance to thrive.

A Lasting Legacy

Today, the Changemakers Project stands as a model for how grassroots, community-driven initiatives can drive significant, lasting change even in highly challenging contexts. By addressing isolation, fostering leadership, and building inclusive advocacy networks, Équité is helping to create safer, more supportive futures for Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ youth.

The partnership between Équité and KIOS has grown steadily over the years, not only through project support but also through building meaningful, personal connections. Just this past Helsinki Pride Week 2025, we had the pleasure of welcoming Équité’s Chairperson Thushara Manoj to Finland. During his visit, Manoj met with Finnish activists and parliament members, shared insights about Sri Lanka’s LGBTQIA+ movement, and joined Helsinki Pride’s international human rights programme — a timely reminder of how solidarity across borders strengthens our collective fight for equality.

 

For more information about Équité and their work: https://equitesrilanka.org/

KIOS has supported Équité’s work since 2020 with funding from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ development cooperation.