For an LGBTQ couple fleeing brutal assault and hate in Africa, the support they香蕉视频直播檝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 香蕉视频直播渟exual and gender-diverse香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淎s queer refugees in the camp, we often experienced a lot of persecution and discrimination,香蕉视频直播� Kanyamu said.
He recounted the numerous physical assaults at the camp, including one instance in which most of his leg was broken.
香蕉视频直播淎t one time we lost some LGBTQ friends. They were burned to death at night 香蕉视频直播� a transgender woman 香蕉视频直播� her injuries were so bad, as a result, she breathed her last,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淲hen you have any rainbow stuff on you, it香蕉视频直播檚 a crime,香蕉视频直播� Kanyamu said. 香蕉视频直播淓ven as a journalist, you香蕉视频直播檙e not supposed to interview anyone who is gay [or] your company would be closed or fined 香蕉视频直播� it香蕉视频直播檚 very challenging right now.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 Pride Parade downtown, Kanyamu walked with the Reach 香蕉视频直播極ut香蕉视频直播� for LGBTQ and Allies initiative with Brechin United Church.
He said the parade was 香蕉视频直播渧ery marvelous,香蕉视频直播� and something he didn香蕉视频直播檛 think he could ever get to do.
香蕉视频直播淥ur lives in Nanaimo here, first of all, we are free as LGBTQ,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Ssentongo added that Pride events last month 香蕉视频直播渇elt like home香蕉视频直播� and that they happily participated 香蕉视频直播渨ithout any fear.香蕉视频直播�
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