For an LGBTQ couple fleeing brutal assault and hate in Africa, the support theyB次元官网网址檝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 B次元官网网址渟exual and gender-diverseB次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淎s queer refugees in the camp, we often experienced a lot of persecution and discrimination,B次元官网网址� Kanyamu said.
He recounted the numerous physical assaults at the camp, including one instance in which most of his leg was broken.
B次元官网网址淎t one time we lost some LGBTQ friends. They were burned to death at night B次元官网网址� a transgender woman B次元官网网址� her injuries were so bad, as a result, she breathed her last,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淲hen you have any rainbow stuff on you, itB次元官网网址檚 a crime,B次元官网网址� Kanyamu said. B次元官网网址淓ven as a journalist, youB次元官网网址檙e not supposed to interview anyone who is gay [or] your company would be closed or fined B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 very challenging right now.B次元官网网址�
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 SocietyB次元官网网址檚 Pride Parade downtown, Kanyamu walked with the Reach B次元官网网址極utB次元官网网址� for LGBTQ and Allies initiative with Brechin United Church.
He said the parade was B次元官网网址渧ery marvelous,B次元官网网址� and something he didnB次元官网网址檛 think he could ever get to do.
B次元官网网址淥ur lives in Nanaimo here, first of all, we are free as LGBTQ,B次元官网网址� he said.
Ssentongo added that Pride events last month B次元官网网址渇elt like homeB次元官网网址� and that they happily participated B次元官网网址渨ithout any fear.B次元官网网址�
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