Abstract
This chapter explores the pandemic threatened life of a sexual and gender minority rights activist from Sri Lanka. The rise of militarization and return of ethno-nationalist regime into power gave little hope for civil society mobilizations of rights of sexual and gender minorities. The strategies and tactics adopted to respond to ethnic polarization, homonationalism, militarization and the precarious lives of sexual and gender minorities will be used to highlight the agency of sexual and gender minorities during the pandemic. Sinhala Buddhist ethno-nationalism has often alienated the interests of not only the ethnic minorities but also sexual and gender minorities. The rise of militarization and return of ethno-nationalist regime into power gave little hope for civil society mobilizations of rights of sexual and gender minorities. Election of President Gotabhaya was a manifestation of public call for a strong leadership to ensure the security hindered by the Easter Attacks in April 2019 and bring back the development with ‘disciplined’ citizenry.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | COVID-19 Assemblages |
| Subtitle of host publication | Queer and Feminist Ethnographies from South Asia |
| Editors | Niharika Banerjea, Paul Boyce, Rohit K. Dasgupta |
| Place of Publication | London, U. K. |
| Publisher | Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group |
| Pages | 145-154 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 97810003262251 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780367688202 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24 Feb 2021 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Social Sciences