The Safe House
Youmanity reports on a unique project delivered by the Micro Rainbow International (MRI), a charity working to eliminate discrimination and poverty among LGBTi people. MRI have recently set up the UK's first 'safe' house for LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers.
Icredibly, there are over 70 countries or cultures who still persecute LGBTI people, who are signled out simply becasue they don't look or sound like the average person down their road.
Residents at the MRI safe house are provided with psychological support, life-coaching and business training as well as a roof over their head.
One of the residents told Thomson Reuters Foundation that ever since moving into the safe house has felt safe for the first time in years.
"Last time I talked to my mum, she told me 'you just humiliate me, don't come back'. And I can't go back because my brothers are going to kill me," said the LGTBI resident.
The question now arises as to whether a 'safe house' is actually needed in a liberal city like London. Yet, even in upbeat world capitals, closenit communities are formed in a 'home-away-from-home' scenario. Customs and traditions are upheld in London much in same way (if not more) they are held the the oroginating country.
According to the Home Office the highest number of asylum seekers where sexual orientation was filed were from were Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals.
The same resident form the safe house stated that he used to live with heterosexual people in Britain and even though he was never physically attacked, he suffered verbal abuse, especially from other Bangladeshis.
"They don't attack just physically, but mentally attack the whole time," he said.
To vouch for the success of the safe house idea, a second house has already opened since MRI launched the project last October.
Read more HERE
Photo by Jess Foami
