The power of love: Celebrating the bravery of LGBTQ refugees
Recognizing the incredible journeys of displaced lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex refugees and asylum-seekers.
Nobody should be forced to flee their home for being who they are or loving who they love. But LGBTQ refugees can — and often do — seek safety and protection because they fear being persecuted based on the sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics. To celebrate the strength and resilience of displaced persons who have sacrificed so much to embrace their true selves, here are five stories about LGBTQ refugees in Canada and beyond.
A hidden life: LGBTQ and displaced people on the frontline of Ukraine conflict
When Viktor*, a 27-year-old gay man, opened his door to police one morning, he knew his secret was out. His claims of having a girlfriend were met with scorn — one of his neighbours had told them everything. Unless Viktor could present the woman within 24 hours or pay a bribe he could not afford, he would be arrested. Panicked, he packed a bag. By the evening, he was gone.
Tragically, Viktor’s story is a familiar one for many gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people living in Ukraine, where homosexuality was only legalized in 1991 and is still considered taboo. Discrimination is further exacerbated in eastern regions such as Donetsk, where a devastating conflict has uprooted two million people and cost more than 10,000 lives.
Along with other internally displaced LGBTQ people, Viktor found help from an organization called Insight, which runs a shelter and offers legal aid for those without the means to support themselves.
“It is not easy to be [LGBTQ] in the East,” says Insight’s director, Olena Shevchenko. “They can beat you, they can rape you. It’s not possible to be open, because you’re never sure what will happen next. You need to lead a hidden life.”
Viktor spent four months at the Insight shelter in Kyiv, eventually finding a job and a place to live, so that he no longer had to live a hidden life.
* Name has been changed for protection reasons
Two Venezuelan LGBTQ refugees on finding new lives in their host communities
For transgender refugee Valentinna, finding safety in Chile allowed her to become on the outside what she had always felt on the inside. After years of struggle, the 27-year-old completed the process of transitioning, which began when she fled the economic and political crisis in her native Venezuela. “I think it would have been impossible to make the transition in Venezuela,” Valentinna says, adding that she was subjected to violence and prejudice from those in her hometown, the northwestern oil capital of Maracaibo.
The same fear rang true for 25-year-old Elvis, a gay refugee from Venezuela’s Anzoátegui region. Simply setting foot outside the home was scary. “I was afraid of being beaten,” Elvis says. Determined to find a better life, he fled to Brazil. There, with the help of UNHCR staff, he was able to find shelter and support. For LGBTQ refugees from Venezuela and around the world, UNHCR is committed to protecting their rights and well-being.
Kenyan transgender activist spreads message of equality
In 2006, Biko Beauttah, a transgender woman from Kenya, arrived in Toronto, Canada’s Pearson International Airport as an asylum seeker. Despite the challenges and difficulties she faced when she arrived in Canada, Biko quickly became a champion for refugees and LGBTQ people, spreading a message of tolerance and equality. In 2017, she organized and hosted Trans Workforce, billed as the world’s first job fair for people who identify and trans and gender non-conforming.
“I feel like I founded a movement bigger than I am,” Biko says, reflecting on Trans Workforce. “For many like me who are not so lucky to have seen this revolution, it is for their honour that we must make it better for the future generations of transgender people.”
Canadian author Samra Habib on championing LGBTQ+ refugees
Born in Pakistan, Samra Habib’s family faced regular threats from Islamic extremists, who persecuted Ahmadi Muslims. She was just 10 years old when she and her family were forced to flee their home, resettling in Canada. As a queer Muslim, Samra faced significant challenges in Canada as she encountered homophobia and bullying, escaped an arranged marriage, and struggled to find a sense of belonging. In her acclaimed memoir, We Have Always Been Here, Samra navigates the struggles of being a young refugee and documents her own journey as part of the LGBTQ community. When asked about the importance of bringing LGBTQ refugees to the forefront of the conversation, Samra says that “LGBTQ+ issues need to be universal issues and inform how we think about inequity and access to opportunities.”
LGBTQ refugees in Canada speak out on their journey to safety
Muhammed, a Pakistani refugee, began to understand that he was gay around the age of 15. Because homosexuality is unacceptable in Pakistan, he felt obligated to marry a woman and have a child, though he still continued to explore his sexuality. One evening, Muhammed was caught at a gay party by the police in Lahore. Though he managed to run away, the police still tried to find and charge him. Muhammed eventually made it to Canada in October 2018, with the help of a brother who lived in Toronto. However, back in Pakistan, the police raided Muhammed’s home and issued an arrest warrant. Muhammed’s wife, upon learning that he was gay, notified his family, who disowned him. He knew immediately that life for him in Pakistan would never again be comfortable. But in Canada, where he has made friends, Muhammed says, “I’m much happier with where my new life is going. I feel safe.”
The photo exhibition “Am I Wrong to Love?” curated by the non-profit organization JAYU with support from UNHCR features portraits and first-person stories of LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers, including Muhammed, living in Canada. For Pride Month in 2020, the “Am I Wrong to Love?” photo exhibit is available online. Dive deeper into the refugee experience by viewing “Am I Wrong to Love?” now.
UNHCR works to protect LGBTQ refugees through creating safe environments and space, providing medical and psycho-social support, resettling LGBTQ refugees and more. Funds are urgently needed in order for UNHCR to continue delivering these essential programs. Your support will help us actively identify LGBTQ refugees and displaced people and connect them with the help they need. Donate now.
