Dear friends,
As a Syrian gay man, I've always lived in a state of constant fear here, where love is a crime and extremist armed groups target LGBT+ folks.
I looked for a very remote place to live far from sight and I've never felt comfortable sharing my address with anyone other than a handful of trusted friends.
Then a catastrophic earthquake hit my town and I lost everything. The protection against persecution I so tirelessly built for myself in a lifetime was gone, overnight.
Fortunately, I found the Guardians of Equality Movement, Syria's first LGBT+ organization, that was able to meet some of my most urgent needs.
They literally saved my life and, they can save many others. But they need your help.
Will you donate today to help provide urgent aid to LGBT+ Syrians like me?
After the earthquake, I was forced to find refuge in an emergency shelter and it was hell on Earth for me: without even the lowest level of privacy, I was exposed to constant verbal and psychological violence as well as sexual harassment. It was so terrifying that I felt safer leaving and sleeping in a public park.
And it's not only me. This is the harsh reality many queer Syrians live in, nowadays.
We are forced to interact with threatening people while seeking emergency support or we're unable to access basic services available to others affected by the earthquake. On top of that, we're facing increased danger of being captured, tortured, and even killed.
We can't possibly deal with this tragedy on our own. That's why I'm turning to you for urgent help.
The Guardians of Equality Movement has the means to organize relocation for vulnerable LGBT+ people and provide the urgent resources they need to survive.
But they can't do it alone and need your help. Please, donate today.
Thanks for your support,
Sami Al-Aghbashi* (he/him)Survivor of the earthquake in Syria
*I'm not using my real name for safety reasons.
SOURCES:● Devastating Earthquake Affects Gem's Beneficiaries/Team In Syria & Turkey – GEM, February 2023
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