Child abuse in the early developmental stages of LGBTIQ+ youth in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background: This paper explores how Sri Lankan LGBTIQ+ young people (ages 18-24) experienced various forms of child abuse during their early developmental stages within their families, schools, and broader society. The study examines identity-targeted abuse, family rejection as a form of emotional abuse, silence and denial in schools and institutions, and the long-term psychological impacts of these experiences. Method: Adopting a qualitative, inductive research design, this study investigates how individuals construct their beliefs in a sociocultural context where non-heterosexual identities are perceived as incongruent with dominant norms of discipline, tradition, and religion. Guided by an ontological constructivist and epistemological interpretivist framework, the researcher interprets participants' narratives hermeneutically unpacking the cultural, social, and constructed meanings embedded in their language and expressions. The study draws on 20 in-depth interviews with self-identified LGBTIQ+ young people in Sri Lanka. It is a partial outcome of the completed doctoral thesis titled "Rural Young Men, Facebook, and Same-Sex Sexual Relationships in Sri Lanka", submitted to Newcastle University, UK. Results: Through thematic analysis of participants' life histories, the study reveals how colonial-era concepts such as "indecency," "abnormality," and "gross indecency"-rooted in the British Penal Code have not only shaped legal discourse but also deeply influenced cultural and social perceptions. These colonial legacies continue to justify the silencing and punishment of non-heterosexual desires during adolescence and childhood. The findings show that children expressing same-sex attraction or gender non-conforming behavior were often subjected to verbal, psychological, and physical abuse, as well as marginalization and exclusion by parents, teachers, neighbors, and institutions under the prevailing heterosexual cultural hegemony in Sri Lanka. Conclusion: As a result, many LGBTIQ+ young people have experienced trauma and mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and the effects of homophobic hysteria. This study calls for further empirical research into the mental health, educational experiences, and sexual and reproductive rights of LGBTIQ+ individuals. It also advocates for a critical, culturally sensitive examination of sexual citizenship, rights-based education, and inclusive policy-making in Sri Lanka.