We know the stats. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is illegal in almost 80 countries, and in at least five of them is still punishable by death.
But do we know the stories? Do we know what it means to fight for the right to be who you are and to live a life free of fear as an LGBTQ refugee? Do we know the sacrifices involved in starting a new life and the vital role support structures—those that allies in safer nations can offer—play in someone successfully escaping imprisonment...
We know the stats. Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is illegal in almost 80 countries, and in at least five of them is still punishable by death.
But do we know the stories? Do we know what it means to fight for the right to be who you are and to live a life free of fear as an LGBTQ refugee? Do we know the sacrifices involved in starting a new life and the vital role support structures—those that allies in safer nations can offer—play in someone successfully escaping imprisonment or death?
Our International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia breakfast is an opportunity to join me and 500 others invested in helping LGBTQ individuals live their true identities freely.
The stories of those fighting for a way out of a life of fear are worth a listen.