Dear Friend — did you get my last email?
I shared my personal story about growing up trans in Bangladesh. I was harassed and assaulted simply for being myself and loving whom I love. It sounds crazy, but I was one of the lucky ones. I got out.
This Trans Day of Resilience, I want to lift up my trans community still living in Bangladesh.
They can’t live openly without risking their safety. But they are still finding ways to connect!
I organized a space online for trans people living in Bangladesh to access resources, discuss topics with one another, and learn about the complex process of asylum. While it is devastating to hear about the hardships my community endures, I’m uplifted by their courage and resilience.
Today, I hope you’ll join me in honoring this amazing community, remembering those we’ve lost to transphobic violence, and re-committing to the fight for trans dignity and safety.
Take it from me: your vocal support for trans folks makes a difference. It transformed my life, and together, I know we can do the same for so many others.
Stay closely connected with Immigration Equality for updates and opportunities to support LGBTQ refugees.
In solidarity,
Umit, Client
Immigration Equality
Dear Friend,
Transgender Awareness Week is something I never thought I would witness in my life.
In Bangladesh where I grew up, trans people like me were outcasts—completely invisible in society.
That’s why I’m filled with joy when I see trans people celebrated here in the U.S. And now that I have asylum, I can be part of that celebration.
I hope that by sharing the story of my journey to the U.S., I can let other trans and queer people know that there is hope.
When I was young, my mother punished me for not “behaving like a girl.” I liked sports, playing with toy cars, and I dressed like a boy. I remember leaving my home in the morning wearing feminine clothes and changing into masculine clothes when I got to school.
I felt different from my peers—from how I dressed to who I was attracted to. I fell in love with another girl, and I knew I had to keep my relationship with her private.
When I was in college, my parents found out about my lesbian relationship and forced me out of my home. I moved in with my partner in the city. Our neighbors there would throw stones at us.
On my way home from work one night, a group of men grabbed me off the side of the road, put me in a van, and sexually assaulted me to “teach me a lesson that I am not a man”. I barely escaped the attack, and it left me severely traumatized for years.
I knew that I needed to escape and find a safe place to heal.
After nearly seven years of harassment and assault from my community, I was offered a path to safety—an invitation to come to the United States and live with my aunt. I was told by my family that If I went, I could no longer be attracted to women and I had to dress “like a girl”.
In 2013, I finally arrived in the United States with a glimmer of hope. I started researching clinics that would assist me in my transition. Once my family found out, I was forced to go back to Bangladesh.
By 2014, I was already back in the U.S., and the moment I arrived, I started transitioning. I wanted to live my truth.
I also came across Immigration Equality who helped me win my asylum case in 2017!
Coming out as a trans man was a life-saving experience for me.
I never thought I would be able to experience being my true, authentic self. Now I feel more aligned with my gender expression, I changed my legal name, and I am given the respect and dignity I deserve as a trans person.
I currently work at the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation where I hope to start a full-time career in tech! My life feels full of joy.
Trans Awareness Week is special to me and to so many other trans and non-binary people around the world. Let’s come together to celebrate our community and advocate for a better, safer, more authentic future for all of us.
Thank you,
Umit, Client
Immigration Equality
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