HELP BRING ASYLUM SEEKERS TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS

Queer Refugees Unite is a group of LGBT+ asylum-seekers, working together to fight the racist asylum system and a culture of disbelief from the Home Office. Anyone who heard the Home Secretary Suella Braverman's recent comments about LGBT asylum seekers will know the attitudes queer asylum seekers are up against.

We have been running for just over a year now, and have almost 100 members spread out all across the UK. Our members face huge amounts of homophobia and transphobia, including from those they live alongside in asylum seeker accommodation. Our weekly zoom meetings and monthly face to face meetings enable us to connect with others in the same situation.

One member said recently, "Today has been one good day amongst the bad days, because of the meeting."

Our meetings and the support members provide for each other are invaluable year-round. We bring people together from all parts of the UK for essential time in a safe space, surrounded by a community of people with similar experiences.

Our members come from Leeds, Wakefield, Halifax, Nottingham, Bristol, Liverpool and various other places where they have been 'dispersed' by the Home Office. Our meetings are an essential lifeline, as well as a chance to campaign together for queer refugees and asylum-seekers.

This year, we really want to be able to organise a Christmas party. Christmas can be a wonderful time, but it can also be lonely and difficult.

We plan to hold a Christmas party for members at an LGBTQ community space in London. The space generously let us hire a room for free, but we really need funds for transportation. We want to buy train and coach tickets for our members as soon as possible, to keep the costs down. Your generous donation will go towards transport costs, as well as refreshments and other extras to make the party special.

Please give whatever you can to help make this a reality. We are really grateful for whatever you are able to donate – it really makes a huge difference!

As we get closer to Christmas, why not make your Christmas gift to a loved one a donation to this group? Knowing that your generosity helped this very vulnerable and marginalised group have an affirming and positive experience really could be the best gift ever!