Stop Billy being deported
Donation protected
Summary
The UK Home Office has declined my friend Billy's request for asylum, if they do not accept his appeal he will be deported back to his home country Guinea. I am starting this campaign to help raise the funds needed to appeal this decision and allow him to stay in the UK and live freely as a gay Black man.
Background
Billy is gay, has no family in the UK and will not be able to live freely in his home country, and would be at risk of physical harm from homophobic people and governmental policy there. Homosexuality is sadly still illegal in the Muslim-majority country, is considered an act against nature and carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He is also HIV-positive - which still carries a stigma even here - and is even less understood in Guinea. As a resident in the UK, he is able to obtain the treatment he needs to stay healthy and live normally which would be far more complicated and uncertain in Guinea.
Billy has lived in the UK for years now, is a gentle soul with a reserved demeanour and has worked hard to go further in life. Having progressed without issue, he was able to start small and progress to a managerial position in customer service. He has a close-knit network of friends who love and care for him and we have been proud to be a part of his life. As can happen in the LGBT community, we have become his chosen family here in place of his own blood who are not supportive nor accepting of his sexuality.
Being in the UK has enabled him to live authentically and without fear of persecution. In Guinea, he was not able to be honest about himself to people and had to keep that side of him hidden, a constant drain and fear of being discovered looming over his head. After moving to the UK, he has been able to live freely and enjoy the privileges offered by progressive laws and human rights and formed lifelong friendships.
What we need to do
Challenging the Home Office's decision will require building a strong case with solid legal counsel, so we will need to raise the fees to do this. Those of us close to Billy can testify to his strength and goodness of character and that he would be an asset to the country, but the main obstacle will be on the legal side which we entrust to our solicitors.
I will be extremely grateful for any assistance that can be given to Billy. I cannot imagine living with the threat of the life I had built for years being taken away, let alone to not have the freedom to live and love openly. I'm hopeful we can build a strong case to protect Billy and keep him here and implore you to help in any way you can even if it is just a little bit.
What we are asking for
As it stands we are looking for help with a portion of the legal fees of up to £3,500, and all of the proceeds would go directly to funding this. I am not asking for anything frivolous or unnecessary, just for the amount needed to make this case.
Everyone will be at different places in life and be of different means, so if you are not able to spare any funds, I would be very grateful if you could help spread the word. Each person who this story touches may have even more reach or have the means to help us fight.
The sooner we can secure the funds, the sooner we can begin the process of building the case to defend him. The Home Office has given a deadline of the end of April before they are no longer open to hearing an appeal, and at this point, they would begin efforts of deportation. We cannot allow it to get to this, and believe this can be stopped so that what is just and what is right can be done.
Thank you for your time, and thank you for any assistance you are able to give to help save our friend from being deported.
The UK Home Office has declined my friend Billy's request for asylum, if they do not accept his appeal he will be deported back to his home country Guinea. I am starting this campaign to help raise the funds needed to appeal this decision and allow him to stay in the UK and live freely as a gay Black man.
Background
Billy is gay, has no family in the UK and will not be able to live freely in his home country, and would be at risk of physical harm from homophobic people and governmental policy there. Homosexuality is sadly still illegal in the Muslim-majority country, is considered an act against nature and carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He is also HIV-positive - which still carries a stigma even here - and is even less understood in Guinea. As a resident in the UK, he is able to obtain the treatment he needs to stay healthy and live normally which would be far more complicated and uncertain in Guinea.
Billy has lived in the UK for years now, is a gentle soul with a reserved demeanour and has worked hard to go further in life. Having progressed without issue, he was able to start small and progress to a managerial position in customer service. He has a close-knit network of friends who love and care for him and we have been proud to be a part of his life. As can happen in the LGBT community, we have become his chosen family here in place of his own blood who are not supportive nor accepting of his sexuality.
Being in the UK has enabled him to live authentically and without fear of persecution. In Guinea, he was not able to be honest about himself to people and had to keep that side of him hidden, a constant drain and fear of being discovered looming over his head. After moving to the UK, he has been able to live freely and enjoy the privileges offered by progressive laws and human rights and formed lifelong friendships.
What we need to do
Challenging the Home Office's decision will require building a strong case with solid legal counsel, so we will need to raise the fees to do this. Those of us close to Billy can testify to his strength and goodness of character and that he would be an asset to the country, but the main obstacle will be on the legal side which we entrust to our solicitors.
I will be extremely grateful for any assistance that can be given to Billy. I cannot imagine living with the threat of the life I had built for years being taken away, let alone to not have the freedom to live and love openly. I'm hopeful we can build a strong case to protect Billy and keep him here and implore you to help in any way you can even if it is just a little bit.
What we are asking for
As it stands we are looking for help with a portion of the legal fees of up to £3,500, and all of the proceeds would go directly to funding this. I am not asking for anything frivolous or unnecessary, just for the amount needed to make this case.
Everyone will be at different places in life and be of different means, so if you are not able to spare any funds, I would be very grateful if you could help spread the word. Each person who this story touches may have even more reach or have the means to help us fight.
The sooner we can secure the funds, the sooner we can begin the process of building the case to defend him. The Home Office has given a deadline of the end of April before they are no longer open to hearing an appeal, and at this point, they would begin efforts of deportation. We cannot allow it to get to this, and believe this can be stopped so that what is just and what is right can be done.
Thank you for your time, and thank you for any assistance you are able to give to help save our friend from being deported.
Organizer
Adam Tengku
Organizer
England