RATHANA CHEA
Being gay, lesbian, trans or intersex is not easy in a world that is not completely accepting of difference. There is always that fear in the back of our minds. The fear of being outed in the workplace that might cost us that promotion or being outed in school that could cost us our friends. But what if outing yourself could cost you your life?
Alex Pagliaro, the refugee campaign coordinator for Amnesty International, is a passionate campaigner for human rights. Laurie Berg, is a long-time campaigner for LGBTIQ issues and a lecturer at UTS specialising in refugee law. Both will be speaking about Refugees and Sexuality at the GLRL Rights Night at the Taxi Club this Wednesday evening.
Brave souls across the globe are faced with the choice of living ‘out’ lives every day. Brave souls like David Kato who publicly fought for equal rights in Uganda or Matthew Shepard who simply wanted to live a quiet life. Both their lives were cut short because of hate. Both were murdered for being gay.
It is unsurprising then that many people who face the very real fear of persecution based on sexuality, sometimes at the hands of their own government, chose to flee their home country. The choice to risk your life because of who you love is not romantic. It is not a journey of magical adventures where you hang out with Elijah Wood in Middle Earth with hobbits and hot elves who look like Orlando Bloom.
The journey for refugees is a matter of life and death. A small portion of food rations and the clothes on your back are sometimes all you have. Uncertainty of destination and overcrowded boats could meet the same fate we saw last December with the refugee boats crashing onto the sharp jagged shores of Christmas Island, killing many.
LGBTIQ people and refugees have a lot in common. Bashing on the street, bashing in the media and bashings by politicians is what we face in our fight for recognition and justice. We’re all in the same boat.
Some come and join us at GLRL Rights Night as we chart a course for a better life, for all of us.
info: GLRL Rights Night, Wednesday, February 16, 7pm, @ Taxi Club, 40-42 Filnders St, Darlinghurst. Members: FREE, non-members: $5
