Emergency in the UK!

Dear friends, I'm proud of who I am. El Salvadorian. Refugee. Student. Intersex. Friend. Survivor. Activist. My journey made me who I am. But it didn't have to be full of so much fear and pain. There are thousands of LGBTI people seeking asylum in the UK like me. And they all deserve better. Here in the UK, I was sexually abused and attacked, because of who I am. I was put in a home for male asylum seekers. There were many men there who wanted to hurt me for being intersex. And they did. The housing provider tried to help and moved me, but the abuse continued wherever they put me. Micro Rainbow International (MRI) and All Out are partnering for an urgent fundraiser to help other LGBTI asylum seekers at risk. But we're behind our goal. We need at least 1,000 All Out members to donate in the next 48 hours. With your help, 10 LGBTI asylum seekers can move into safe homes run by MRI while they await asylum. Please donate today! – Kaira for All Out Previous email: -------------------

Dear friends, When I fled El Salvador, I had high hopes for my new life in the UK. But when I got here, I experienced even more violence and fear. I'm intersex (someone born with sex characteristics that don't fit the typical idea of a male or female body) and I don't identify as male or a female. Because of my identity, I was in grave danger in my home country. When I claimed asylum in the UK, I was placed in a home for male asylum seekers because I am labeled as male on my birth certificate. I was bullied, sexually abused, and attacked for being intersex. I was moved to a different house, but continued to be abused. I would have left for a life of homelessness if it wasn't for a group called Micro Rainbow International (MRI). They've been working closely with the Home Office and accommodation providers to resolve issues of safety for LGBTI asylum seekers. Thanks to some generous funders, MRI bought 5 properties in England where LGBTI asylum seekers can safely stay. But they need your help to get these properties up and running. Together with All Out, they're raising money to buy furniture and blankets, pay for utilities and other essentials like travel costs and counselling. Friends, help LGBTI asylum seekers live safely in the UK and donate today! LGBTI people are facing an epidemic of violence in El Salvador. We're constantly threatened by gangs, being told that they will murder us if we do not leave. I can't explain to you how it feels to escape such hell only to continue to be in danger. It crushed my soul. But I'm not the only person looking for a safer life in the UK. I'm just one of at least 3,500 people who claimed asylum based on their sexuality, gender identity, or intersex status between 2015 and 2017. That's thousands of LGBTI people who could be put in homes where they experience bigotry and violence from other asylum seekers. Thousands of us who could be re-traumatised. MRI's houses offer us a chance of hope and safety. If just 1,500 All Out members chip in, at least 10 LGBTI asylum seekers like me will be given a safe, new home. You can help UK's LGBTI asylum seekers finally find safety. Please, donate today. Thanks for going All Out, Kaira* *I'm not using my real name here for my own safety. SOURCES:  ● ︎Gay and intersex asylum seekers find place to call home in Britain – Reuters, 15 January 2018  ● Micro Rainbow International Website  ● 'Terrorized at home', Central America's LGBT people to flee for their lives: report – Reuters, 27 November 2017 Want to support All Out's ongoing work? Our tiny team stretches every dollar to make it count. DONATE TODAY

All Out Action Fund 115 Fifth Ave New York, NY 10003 Copyright © 2018 All Out, All rights reserved.