Dear friends –
My schoolmates, colleagues, family members, and even complete strangers... I've been harassed, bullied, and attacked by more people than I can count.
My name is Khaled Nour and I'm a 22-year-old gay man. I've lived in Egypt my entire life.
Growing up, I never felt safe. I never felt truly free. That's why a few years ago I decided to launch my own business to try and take control of my own life. I've got a knack for art and clothes, so I saved up to buy a machine to print custom t-shirts.
It was instantly popular with my friends. Some LGBT+ activists heard about my business and I started printing shirts for them, which they couldn't get at mainstream print shops here. It's too risky.
The demand for my custom t-shirts has recently increased and I've got a real chance to become financially independent. If this business becomes a success, that means I can move into my own place and separate from my abusive family. I would finally feel free.
But I've run out of money and need your help. All Out is partnering with a local LGBT+ group to help me raise the funds I need to pay for bigger, better printing equipment, more stock materials, and marketing through secure channels.
The situation here isn't getting any better. Because of the systemic oppression around us, LGBT+ people like myself struggle to become financially independent. That often keeps us dependent upon abusive families or working under homophobic employers.
On top of that, Egyptian authorities have developed new techniques to hunt down people they assume are LGBT+. They infiltrate our online communities and try to trick us. Many men who get arrested are forced to undergo humiliating "anal tests" to "prove" they're gay.
Our community is desperate. Many of us are leaving the country. But I haven't lost all hope.
If enough All Out members chip in, I can turn my business into a sustainable source of income and turn my life around.
Thanks for going All Out,
Khaled Nour *
* I'm not using my real name and photo for my own safety.
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