House Britani, A Black Trans Garifuna Migrant
Donation protected
Britani Lalin
"As a young transgender girl growing up in the overwhelmingly transphobic community of Balfate on the north coast of Honduras, Britani was subject to widespread discrimination and harassment, oftentimes at the hands of her own family. At 14, Britani decided to leave her home for the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Not long after arriving in the capital, Britani fell victim to a child sex trafficking ring, which she escaped two years later. At age 16, Britani she forged an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Honduras, wherein she would testify against her captors in exchange for protection from the government. Knowing the enormous risks involved in testifying against these men, several of whom were wealthy and well-connected, Britani went ahead anyway, “so that there wouldn’t be any more children abused in the future.”
For nearly six years, Britani served as a protected witness, offering corroborative evidence that eventually put four men involved in the trafficking ring behind bars. But the danger was omnipresent, and Britani found the so-called protection of the state completely inadequate. “Oftentimes I couldn’t leave my house,” says Britani, describing this period. “When I would go to the store, I would shake. When someone was walking behind me on the street I would shake, not knowing if they meant me harm.” The two friends received death threats, and attempts at extortion from people threatening to divulge their identities. “I knew that if I didn’t leave the country soon they were going to murder me,” she says.
For the next three years Britani was in difficult exile in Guatemala and Mexico. But in 2018, while she was living in Guadalajara, Mexico, a friend reached out to let her know that a LGBTQ+ caravan was forming to travel from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to the United States. Britani decided to join, linking up with the caravan as it passed through southern Mexico, and after several weeks traveling north Britani arrived at the United States border and submitted her formal request for asylum.
While her asylum case is being processed Britani needs support. She does not yet have work papers, and with limited opportunities for employment Britani is finding it increasingly difficult to pay rent and buy food.
Since arriving to the US, Britani has been working a variety of jobs, as well as being an activist, facilitator, and advocate for "a world without borders." She is seeking more work opportunities as well as going through the complicated and difficult process of finding stable housing. Having moved around Texas, she is now in New Orleans and seeking a safe place to stay.
“I want to fight my case,” says Britani. “I don’t want to go back to Honduras to die. I need a little help, from whoever can help me.”
Once Britani is more financially secure, she has plans to return to activism, advocating for young LGBTQ+ people. Eventually she would like to open a shelter for at-risk youth."
"As a young transgender girl growing up in the overwhelmingly transphobic community of Balfate on the north coast of Honduras, Britani was subject to widespread discrimination and harassment, oftentimes at the hands of her own family. At 14, Britani decided to leave her home for the capital, Tegucigalpa.
Not long after arriving in the capital, Britani fell victim to a child sex trafficking ring, which she escaped two years later. At age 16, Britani she forged an agreement with the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Honduras, wherein she would testify against her captors in exchange for protection from the government. Knowing the enormous risks involved in testifying against these men, several of whom were wealthy and well-connected, Britani went ahead anyway, “so that there wouldn’t be any more children abused in the future.”
For nearly six years, Britani served as a protected witness, offering corroborative evidence that eventually put four men involved in the trafficking ring behind bars. But the danger was omnipresent, and Britani found the so-called protection of the state completely inadequate. “Oftentimes I couldn’t leave my house,” says Britani, describing this period. “When I would go to the store, I would shake. When someone was walking behind me on the street I would shake, not knowing if they meant me harm.” The two friends received death threats, and attempts at extortion from people threatening to divulge their identities. “I knew that if I didn’t leave the country soon they were going to murder me,” she says.
For the next three years Britani was in difficult exile in Guatemala and Mexico. But in 2018, while she was living in Guadalajara, Mexico, a friend reached out to let her know that a LGBTQ+ caravan was forming to travel from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to the United States. Britani decided to join, linking up with the caravan as it passed through southern Mexico, and after several weeks traveling north Britani arrived at the United States border and submitted her formal request for asylum.
While her asylum case is being processed Britani needs support. She does not yet have work papers, and with limited opportunities for employment Britani is finding it increasingly difficult to pay rent and buy food.
Since arriving to the US, Britani has been working a variety of jobs, as well as being an activist, facilitator, and advocate for "a world without borders." She is seeking more work opportunities as well as going through the complicated and difficult process of finding stable housing. Having moved around Texas, she is now in New Orleans and seeking a safe place to stay.
“I want to fight my case,” says Britani. “I don’t want to go back to Honduras to die. I need a little help, from whoever can help me.”
Once Britani is more financially secure, she has plans to return to activism, advocating for young LGBTQ+ people. Eventually she would like to open a shelter for at-risk youth."
Organizer
Diego Ortiz
Organizer
Chicago, IL