Can you help keep queer refugees safe?

Dear friends – The refugee crisis is not over. And it's getting harder and harder for asylum seekers to get the safety they need. It's even more dangerous for LGBT refugees, who face violence and discrimination even after relocating. I just spoke to our German partners at Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe (HS) and they told me many gay refugees have had their asylum requests rejected in Germany in the past few weeks. HS helps cover the costs for LGBT-friendly lawyers and translators for gay asylum seekers in Germany – one of the most popular countries where refugees from the Middle East end up. The current system just doesn't work for LGBT refugees. Translators can be homophobic and distort the truth. Shelters can be unsafe for queer people. HS can help, but they can't keep up with all the new requests for asylum coming in and they're quickly running out of funds. So far, 729 All Out members have donated to help HS provide more support. Friends, if 571 more people donate by MIDNIGHT tonight, HS can help at least another 27 LGBT refugees. Can you chip in today? – Matt Previous email: -------------------

Dear friends – When I kissed my girlfriend goodbye, I didn't know it would be our last kiss. My name is Aicha* and I'm a lesbian refugee from Tunisia. After my parents caught us kissing, they tried to force me to marry a man. It was a living hell. Soon after, my boss heard what happened and fired me. Then my girlfriend's father found out. He brutally beat me and dragged me to the police station. Before I knew it, I was homeless, jobless, and facing three years in prison under Tunisia's anti-gay law. I was forced to flee the only home I'd ever known and seek asylum in Germany. The only reason I can safely write to you today is because of the help I got from a German group called Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe. They help LGBT people like me secure asylum. But they've received so many requests this year, their funds are drying up. If 1,300 All Out members chip in, Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe can help at least 27 LGBT refugees like me find safety. Luc – can you chip in? When I was applying for asylum in Germany, authorities didn't believe my story. The interpreter I was given was homophobic and kept insulting me and providing false translations. When my initial request for asylum was rejected, I was more hopeless than ever. Luckily, through Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe, I met a group of activists who offered to get me a lawyer and new interpreter, free of cost. They helped get authorities to reconsider my case. I was finally granted asylum! Friends, I'm writing to you today because I know there are many other asylum seekers like me who need urgent help. By donating today, you'll be directly helping LGBT asylum seekers receive unbiased legal help and a better chance at staying safe. Thanks to Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe, I feel like I got my life back. I recently moved in with my new partner. My German is getting better and I'm planning to start an apprenticeship soon. But I'm just one of many. Please, help LGBT asylum seekers like me today. Thanks for going All Out, Aicha* * I'm not using my real name, for my own protection SOURCES:  ● Hostile environment for homosexual refugees – Deutsche Welle, 13 July 2017  ● Homosexuelle Selbsthilfe website (in German) Want to support All Out's ongoing work? Our tiny team stretches every dollar to make it count. DONATE TODAY

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