Support LGBTI Refugees
Donation protected
This Pride Month, join us in supporting some of the most marginalized members of the global LGBTQIA+ community. We represent the organization People Against Suffering, Oppression, and Poverty, the only organization that provides legal and direct aid to the LGBTI refugee community in Cape Town, South Africa. Homosexuality is a crime in 38 of 54 African countries (and punishable by death in four), so many LGBT people flee to South Africa, the only country in Africa that grants refugee status on the basis of sexuality and gender identity. When they arrive, however, the fight for equality is not over, as they experience both xenophobia and homophobia in South Africa.
Obtaining and maintaining proper documentation as an LGBTI refugee in South Africa is nearly impossible. After the closure of the Cape Town Refugee Processing Center, LGBTI immigrants have been forced to travel 1,400km to Pretoria every month at their own expense to renew their asylum status. Many LGBTI refugees report experiencing homophobia in their immigration interviews, as Home Affairs Officers ask them to "prove" their sexuality, explain why they are gay, mock them, or deny them outright. Without proper documentation, employment and housing remain a constant struggle. PASSOP's 2018 research report found that almost 10% of LGBTI asylum seekers in Cape Town are homeless (an additional 45% live in shacks), and 43% are unemployed. Without access to stable jobs, most LGBTI refugees are forced into sex work, where they make R20 ($1.52) a night. Unable to negotiate safe sex in this work, many LGBTI asylum seekers contract HIV/AIDs. Because South African hospitals require identification, 95% of undocumented LGBT asylum seekers do not have access to health care, making this diagnosis particularly dangerous. Xenophobic, homophobic, and transphobic violence are a constant threat against the community, and even those who have proper documentation are frequently placed in detention with no charges against them.
People Against Suffering, Oppression, and Poverty (PASSOP) works tirelessly to mitigate the barriers faced by LGBTI asylum seekers by providing legal aid, direct aid, community engagement, data collection and reporting, and government advocacy. As the only organization for LGBT asylum seekers in South Africa, PASSOP plays a vital role in ensuring the community can access informed and inclusive services. PASSOP also issues "Newcomer Letters" to LGBTI asylum seekers, which are government recognized forms of identification that allow them to access employment, housing, and healthcare. Because PASSOP does not require fees for any of its services, and keeps all events free so they are accessible to the community, funding often runs dry. PASSOP staff, who are primarily LGBTI refugees themselves, often work without pay when funding is lacking to ensure LGBTI asylum seekers can still access services.
This Pride Month, join us in recognizing the vital work of PASSOP.
$9 provides a Newcomer Letter to an LGBTI asylum seeker.
$13 provides an appeal letter for an LGBTI asylum seeker who has been denied protection by the South African government.
$40 provides transportation to Pretoria for an LGBTI asylee to renew their documentation.
$160 provides transportation, accommodation, and expenses to travel to Pretoria to renew documentation.
$250 provides a month of rent for a housing insecure LGBTI refugee.
ANY amount supports the valuable work of PASSOP and the livelihoods of LGBTI asylum seekers.
Thank you for your support, and happy Pride Month!
*Note: Due to gofundme geographical restrictions that do not allow South African organizations to host fundraisers, this gofundme will be collected by US citizen PASSOP interns and donated directly to the organization, an approved method of fundraising by the gofundme Community Management Team. If you wish to confirm that PASSOP is receiving these donations, you may email the organization at [email redacted].za
Website: http://www.passop.co.za/
Obtaining and maintaining proper documentation as an LGBTI refugee in South Africa is nearly impossible. After the closure of the Cape Town Refugee Processing Center, LGBTI immigrants have been forced to travel 1,400km to Pretoria every month at their own expense to renew their asylum status. Many LGBTI refugees report experiencing homophobia in their immigration interviews, as Home Affairs Officers ask them to "prove" their sexuality, explain why they are gay, mock them, or deny them outright. Without proper documentation, employment and housing remain a constant struggle. PASSOP's 2018 research report found that almost 10% of LGBTI asylum seekers in Cape Town are homeless (an additional 45% live in shacks), and 43% are unemployed. Without access to stable jobs, most LGBTI refugees are forced into sex work, where they make R20 ($1.52) a night. Unable to negotiate safe sex in this work, many LGBTI asylum seekers contract HIV/AIDs. Because South African hospitals require identification, 95% of undocumented LGBT asylum seekers do not have access to health care, making this diagnosis particularly dangerous. Xenophobic, homophobic, and transphobic violence are a constant threat against the community, and even those who have proper documentation are frequently placed in detention with no charges against them.
People Against Suffering, Oppression, and Poverty (PASSOP) works tirelessly to mitigate the barriers faced by LGBTI asylum seekers by providing legal aid, direct aid, community engagement, data collection and reporting, and government advocacy. As the only organization for LGBT asylum seekers in South Africa, PASSOP plays a vital role in ensuring the community can access informed and inclusive services. PASSOP also issues "Newcomer Letters" to LGBTI asylum seekers, which are government recognized forms of identification that allow them to access employment, housing, and healthcare. Because PASSOP does not require fees for any of its services, and keeps all events free so they are accessible to the community, funding often runs dry. PASSOP staff, who are primarily LGBTI refugees themselves, often work without pay when funding is lacking to ensure LGBTI asylum seekers can still access services.
This Pride Month, join us in recognizing the vital work of PASSOP.
$9 provides a Newcomer Letter to an LGBTI asylum seeker.
$13 provides an appeal letter for an LGBTI asylum seeker who has been denied protection by the South African government.
$40 provides transportation to Pretoria for an LGBTI asylee to renew their documentation.
$160 provides transportation, accommodation, and expenses to travel to Pretoria to renew documentation.
$250 provides a month of rent for a housing insecure LGBTI refugee.
ANY amount supports the valuable work of PASSOP and the livelihoods of LGBTI asylum seekers.
Thank you for your support, and happy Pride Month!
*Note: Due to gofundme geographical restrictions that do not allow South African organizations to host fundraisers, this gofundme will be collected by US citizen PASSOP interns and donated directly to the organization, an approved method of fundraising by the gofundme Community Management Team. If you wish to confirm that PASSOP is receiving these donations, you may email the organization at [email redacted].za
Website: http://www.passop.co.za/
Organizer
Sarah Whipple
Organizer