Page 335 - RUICHSS 2023 Proceeding

University of Ruhuna ISSN: 2706-0063
Matara, Sri Lanka

interact with like-minded people, the study also adds to the body of knowledge

on LGBT+ issues in Sri Lanka. The study's conclusions may help shape
policies and actions that enhance the welfare and social inclusion of LGBT+

people in Sri Lanka

5. Review of the Relevant Literature

Social media has assimilated into modern culture and has made it possible for

people to interact and communicate with others on a worldwide scale. Social

media thus has the potential to be very influential in defining people's
identities and fostering societal change. A particularly effective instrument for

advancing the rights and visibility of marginalised people, such as the
LGBTQ+ community, is social media (Levina & Aricak, 2017). Many

LGBTQ+ people still experience prejudice and marginalisation, despite the
global trend towards the acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and the

decriminaliation of homosexuality in a number of nations (Gnanadason,

2019). Same-sex sexual behaviour is prohibited in Sri Lanka and has a
maximum ten-year jail penalty (Equaldex, 2021). Because of this, LGBTQ+

people in Sri Lanka frequently experience harassment and violence in addition

to considerable societal stigma (Human Rights Watch, 2020).

An important topic of enquiry is the influence of social media in promoting
the identification of homosexuality, given the difficulties LGBTQ+ people in

Sri Lanka confront. According to Duguay (2016), social media has the ability
to help LGBTQ+ people connect with others, access resources and support
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