Emergency Funds to Support Asylum Claim for Queer Youth

Please see message from recipient:

Hello,

I am a queer international student currently seeking asylum in St. John’s. I came to St. John’s when I was 18, to study at MUN. Since then I have found community and been able to accept my queer identity, something I had to fully repress at home. I am seeking asylum because I know I cannot go back to pretending to be someone that I am not.

Living in Canada and making friends here is the first time I’ve been able to begin accepting myself, and becoming open with my queer sexuality. In my home country, homosexuality and queerness are not widely accepted, and in fact criminalized. Gay people face state persecution and violence.

I truly fear for my safety, especially knowing what I now do, that I would be unable to go back to living in fear without knowledge that another way is possible for me.

While dealing with personal and mental health struggles, I was unable to renew my study permit, causing my status to lapse. I am working towards getting my status but in the meantime, I am unable to work. My family has cut me off because they don’t support my choice to stay here. Out of fear, I have not told them the real reason.

I am setting up this Go Fund Me to cover rent and grocery expenses for the next few months until I have status and am able to work to support myself. I expect to have my asylum claim submitted within the next two weeks, and am currently in a critical phase of the immigration process. Please consider donating to help me make it through this transitional period. I have seen first hand the depth of care people have for each other here, and I hope that with your support I will be able to find safety, acceptance, and community.

With love and solidarity,

Thank you