For an LGBTQ couple fleeing brutal assault and hate in Africa, the support they害羞草研究所檝e received from a Vancouver Island organization has been nothing short of life-saving.
Paul Canary Kanyamu, 26, and his partner Meddie Ssentongo, 22, originally met in Uganda and arrived in Nanaimo at the beginning of April from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, where they lived for three and a half years.
A Vancouver Island volunteer organization known as , which sponsors 害羞草研究所渟exual and gender-diverse害羞草研究所� refugees from around the world who have fled persecution in their home countries, sponsored the couple while at Kakuma, with their move to Canada, and will provide financial, social and emotional support for their first year in Nanaimo.
James Chamberlain, a secretary for ROAR and a sponsor for Kanyamu and Ssentongo, said the organization was able to provide the couple with money for food, medical treatment and cellphones for secure communication.
Ssentongo said that some of the services at the camp, like medication, schooling and law enforcement, were denied to LGBTQ people.
害羞草研究所淎s queer refugees in the camp, we often experienced a lot of persecution and discrimination,害羞草研究所� Kanyamu said.
He recounted the numerous physical assaults at the camp, including one instance in which most of his leg was broken.
害羞草研究所淎t one time we lost some LGBTQ friends. They were burned to death at night 害羞草研究所� a transgender woman 害羞草研究所� her injuries were so bad, as a result, she breathed her last,害羞草研究所� he said.
Although same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, a harsher anti-LGBTQ law was enacted this spring that, in some cases, includes the death penalty.
害羞草研究所淲hen you have any rainbow stuff on you, it害羞草研究所檚 a crime,害羞草研究所� Kanyamu said. 害羞草研究所淓ven as a journalist, you害羞草研究所檙e not supposed to interview anyone who is gay [or] your company would be closed or fined 害羞草研究所� it害羞草研究所檚 very challenging right now.害羞草研究所�
In stark contrast to their old lives, Kanyamu said he was finally able to participate in a Pride event without fear. On June 11, during the Nanaimo Pride Society害羞草研究所檚 Pride Parade downtown, Kanyamu walked with the Reach 害羞草研究所極ut害羞草研究所� for LGBTQ and Allies initiative with Brechin United Church.
He said the parade was 害羞草研究所渧ery marvelous,害羞草研究所� and something he didn害羞草研究所檛 think he could ever get to do.
害羞草研究所淥ur lives in Nanaimo here, first of all, we are free as LGBTQ,害羞草研究所� he said.
Ssentongo added that Pride events last month 害羞草研究所渇elt like home害羞草研究所� and that they happily participated 害羞草研究所渨ithout any fear.害羞草研究所�
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