COVID-19 relief for LGBTIQ folks in Sri Lanka
Donation protected
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing an aggressive third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with an overwhelmed healthcare sector and a degenerating economy. A group of grassroots LGBTIQA+ activists in Sri Lanka, whose mutual aid efforts helped more than 300 LGBTIQA+ persons during the first and second waves of the pandemic, deploying resources upto 2 million LKR, have now come together once more.
These same queer and trans activists have set up an LGBT HelpLine to provide immediate relief with dry rations, rent costs, psycho-social support, legal support, hormones and HIV-related healthcare support, to LGBTIQA+ folks across Sri Lanka in this time. This initiatve is led by Community Welfare and Development Fund (CWDF), Venasa Transgender Network, Jaffna Sangam (Tamil Speaking LGBTIQ+ Network), Anichcham Eastern Queer Collective, and Chathra, an LGBTIQ+ Network. The fundraising iniative is supported by a Collective for Feminist Conversations (FemCon). This initiatve is working class-led and working class-focused, and sex worker affirmative.
The pandemic has aggravated the precarious conditions faced by LGBTIQA+ persons who are already in vulnerable position. Many Trans, Nachchi, Non-binary, Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay persons from different parts of the country have lost their livelihoods, are isolated from their support networks, with many becoming homeless, as they are unable to pay rent, and in some cases, because landlords are using this as a way to justify discriminatory expulsions of LGBTIQA+ persons from tenancy.
Some are already being forced to live in hunger, with hostile family members or other hosts, and are being sent to quarantine centers with little or no help. A sense of anxiety in LGBTIQA+ communities in the rural areas and under-served semi-urban and urban areas is growing, causing severe mental and physical health challenges.
This fundraiser will help get resources to these organizations who will deploy it immediately, to assist trans, queer, nonbinary and Nachchi folks as needs arise. The resources are deployed after a simple but thorough and fair vetting process, with full commitment to transparency and accountability.
These same queer and trans activists have set up an LGBT HelpLine to provide immediate relief with dry rations, rent costs, psycho-social support, legal support, hormones and HIV-related healthcare support, to LGBTIQA+ folks across Sri Lanka in this time. This initiatve is led by Community Welfare and Development Fund (CWDF), Venasa Transgender Network, Jaffna Sangam (Tamil Speaking LGBTIQ+ Network), Anichcham Eastern Queer Collective, and Chathra, an LGBTIQ+ Network. The fundraising iniative is supported by a Collective for Feminist Conversations (FemCon). This initiatve is working class-led and working class-focused, and sex worker affirmative.
The pandemic has aggravated the precarious conditions faced by LGBTIQA+ persons who are already in vulnerable position. Many Trans, Nachchi, Non-binary, Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay persons from different parts of the country have lost their livelihoods, are isolated from their support networks, with many becoming homeless, as they are unable to pay rent, and in some cases, because landlords are using this as a way to justify discriminatory expulsions of LGBTIQA+ persons from tenancy.
Some are already being forced to live in hunger, with hostile family members or other hosts, and are being sent to quarantine centers with little or no help. A sense of anxiety in LGBTIQA+ communities in the rural areas and under-served semi-urban and urban areas is growing, causing severe mental and physical health challenges.
This fundraiser will help get resources to these organizations who will deploy it immediately, to assist trans, queer, nonbinary and Nachchi folks as needs arise. The resources are deployed after a simple but thorough and fair vetting process, with full commitment to transparency and accountability.
Organizer and beneficiary
Subha Wijesiriwardena
Organizer
England
Wara Thiyagaraja
Beneficiary
