This fundraiser is to support lesbian refugees and their children that are currently living in the UNHCR Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya, as well as some who fled Nairobi and others to a neighboring war torn country. We are Sue Hodes, Janice Gutman, and Tina Gianoulis, members of the Seattle chapter of the International Kakuma Refugee Lesbian and Kids' Collaboration. The Collaboration is a partnership between lesbians from East Africa who need (or needed) to emigrate to a safe place and lesbian supporters in Seattle, London, Germany, and Canada .

African lesbians have fled extreme anti-queer laws and attitudes in home countries like Uganda and the Republic of Congo. Their lives were in danger. Forced into arranged marriages, abused & when their love for women discovered, threatened with death by family members, and/or their children taken away they left for the Kakuma Refugee Camp in neighboring Kenya.

Even in the Kakuma refugee camp, they continue to experience harassment and violence at the hands of other residents, police, and the UNHCR authorities who should be ensuring their safety. This is why some of the camp residents fled to Nairobi and a neighboring country.

Now waiting through the long uncertain process to get visas to a safe country, they need money for basics of food, medicine and healthcare, data, and outside the camp, need rent. (Kakuma Camp no longer provides much food - less since US stopped international AID under the Trump Administration) Emigration is also much more difficult now since the US essentially no longer admits refugees. Currently with the E-Bola virus in Congo and Uganda, Canada is temporarily suspending completing the visa process for some of the women who were soon to be processed to leave.

So far, 4 sisters and their families are now safely in Canada. Our group is all volunteer and all contributions go directly to the women in Africa.

In the understanding that our survival is tied to theirs, please contribute what you can to help the lesbians of Kakuma.