LGBTQ Asylum Seekers Need Your Help
Tax deductible
LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers need YOUR help!
Before the pandemic, The LGBT Asylum Project made legal representation accessible by providing pro bono and low bono services based on our clients needs. But moving forward, we are proud to announce that we are taking on ALL cases PRO BONO so LGBTQ asylum seekers won’t have to deal with the low bono legal fees on top of the financial hardships that come with a global pandemic.
MISSION
The LGBT Asylum Project is the only San Francisco nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing accessible legal representation for LGBT asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or HIV status.
DURING COVID-19
In 2020, The LGBT Asylum Project served 338 LGBTQ+ immigrants in the United States!!!
As part of the LGBTQ+ Covid Relief collaboration, we are working to meet the needs of all of our community and make sure that our services are still available and accessible by:
- Helping ALL clients FREE OF CHARGE
- Utilizing an online Intake Form for prospective clients to fill out, which collects client demographic data as well as immigration entry and exit data, including legal status at each entry/exit.
- Working with all clients remotely via email and postal service.
- Organizing staff meetings on Zoom conference calls in order to stay on track with our clients & administrative work.
- Continuing to work with our community partners and volunteers remotely, communicating via email and supporting each other on social media platforms like Facebook.
However, the pandemic is having a detrimental effect on The LGBT Asylum Project, as events that we were the beneficiary of have been cancelled, like our Pride fundraising party, we are looking at an estimated minimum $40,000 budget deficit.
Below you can find the story of one of our clients and see how the LGBT Asylum Project saves lives.
CLIENT STORY
“Oscar” is a gay man from Venezuela. Oscar was abused and mistreated his whole life for being gay. He was sexually violated by some of his relatives. Constantly bullied at school and at home by his family. His parents kicked him out for being too feminine, too sensitive for a boy. After a period of homelessness and depression, Oscar attempted suicide. While in the hospital recovering from his attempt, he was informed that he was HIV+. When his parents found out about his diagnosis, his father attacked him and confiscated his HIV medications, claiming that only through religion and prayers, Oscar could get cured of homosexuality and HIV. Oscar was able to convince his parents to send him to California for anti-gay conversion therapy. That’s when we met Oscar. Our office, the LGBT Asylum Project, worked hard on Oscar’s case and Oscar was granted asylum in April 2019. Now Oscar lives a healthy life in San Francisco, taking his HIV medications, being a member of our LGBT community.
Help us serve LGBTQ+ IMMIGRANTS BY DONATING TODAY!
We THANK YOU for your support!
Everyone at The LGBT Asylum Project
Before the pandemic, The LGBT Asylum Project made legal representation accessible by providing pro bono and low bono services based on our clients needs. But moving forward, we are proud to announce that we are taking on ALL cases PRO BONO so LGBTQ asylum seekers won’t have to deal with the low bono legal fees on top of the financial hardships that come with a global pandemic.
MISSION
The LGBT Asylum Project is the only San Francisco nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing accessible legal representation for LGBT asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or HIV status.
DURING COVID-19
In 2020, The LGBT Asylum Project served 338 LGBTQ+ immigrants in the United States!!!
As part of the LGBTQ+ Covid Relief collaboration, we are working to meet the needs of all of our community and make sure that our services are still available and accessible by:
- Helping ALL clients FREE OF CHARGE
- Utilizing an online Intake Form for prospective clients to fill out, which collects client demographic data as well as immigration entry and exit data, including legal status at each entry/exit.
- Working with all clients remotely via email and postal service.
- Organizing staff meetings on Zoom conference calls in order to stay on track with our clients & administrative work.
- Continuing to work with our community partners and volunteers remotely, communicating via email and supporting each other on social media platforms like Facebook.
However, the pandemic is having a detrimental effect on The LGBT Asylum Project, as events that we were the beneficiary of have been cancelled, like our Pride fundraising party, we are looking at an estimated minimum $40,000 budget deficit.
Below you can find the story of one of our clients and see how the LGBT Asylum Project saves lives.
CLIENT STORY
“Oscar” is a gay man from Venezuela. Oscar was abused and mistreated his whole life for being gay. He was sexually violated by some of his relatives. Constantly bullied at school and at home by his family. His parents kicked him out for being too feminine, too sensitive for a boy. After a period of homelessness and depression, Oscar attempted suicide. While in the hospital recovering from his attempt, he was informed that he was HIV+. When his parents found out about his diagnosis, his father attacked him and confiscated his HIV medications, claiming that only through religion and prayers, Oscar could get cured of homosexuality and HIV. Oscar was able to convince his parents to send him to California for anti-gay conversion therapy. That’s when we met Oscar. Our office, the LGBT Asylum Project, worked hard on Oscar’s case and Oscar was granted asylum in April 2019. Now Oscar lives a healthy life in San Francisco, taking his HIV medications, being a member of our LGBT community.
Help us serve LGBTQ+ IMMIGRANTS BY DONATING TODAY!
We THANK YOU for your support!
Everyone at The LGBT Asylum Project
Organizer
Kenan Arun
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
Center for Immigrant Protection
Beneficiary