Meet Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, one of the organizers of Colombo Pride.
On June 28th, 1969 the Stonewall Riots kicked off a larger gay rights movement in the USA.
In 1970, the first gay pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago – today pride parades are taking place all around the world.
In 2018, I wanted to know who the people organizing today’s pride parades are, what the marches mean to them, and met wonderfully powerful, loving and kind people from places, which might not be the first ones that come to mind, when we think of queer love.
See all Faces of Pride.
What’s your name and age?
My name is Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, I’m 62 years old.
Since when have you been involved with Colombo Pride?
I am the founder of Pride in Sri Lanka, which is 14 years old.
Why do you think Colombo Pride is important?
It is important to mainstream our issues, visualise the LGBTIQ community and give people in Sri Lanka a taste of Queer culture. It goes very far to encourage LGBTIQ persons to come out and feel proud of themselves, and also to show Sri Lanka there is a vibrant LGBTI community here.
What is one (or two) remarkable thing(s) that has/have happened at Barbados Pride?
This year’s pride is the largest Colombo PRIDE festival to date. The number of new faces participating gives us hope and enthusiasm to continue our work here in Sri Lanka.
What do you do when you are not organizing Colombo Pride?
I am the Executive Director of EQUAL GROUND, the only LGBTIQ organization working for equal rights for all members of the LGBTIQ community here in Sri Lanka.
What do you like to do in your free time?
Photography
Is there something you would like to say to the rest of the LGBT+ community?
Don’t be complacent, always fight for what you want and never give up the struggle. No matter where you are.
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Not different, just love
How do you feel when it comes to dealing with our emotions, expectations and responsibilities, around coming out, living as a LGBTIQ+ person and when it comes to our families and love in general?
