Dear , 

As a trans woman, my life in Peru was painful. Since I was very young, my schoolmates and community shamed me for doing and being what felt natural to me. I lived with a weight on my shoulders my whole life—in fear of facing violence or even death. When I arrived in the U.S., that weight was lifted. And thanks to Immigration Equality helping me win asylum, I felt true happiness.
 

This Coming Out Day, my goal is to raise $1,011 on 10/11 for Immigration Equality. Please donate now to support their life-saving work.

For me, there was no definitive moment I came out of the closet. Since I was four or five years old, I knew I was different, but that was defined entirely by how other people saw and treated me. I knew who I was, so I never had a grand realization about my gender. And as for my family, there was no discussion about it.  

Because I didn’t conform to Peru’s rigid views of how I should express my gender or sexuality, I was singled out by my schoolmates and neighbors for harassment and abuse. I lived a life of fear, trauma, and self-loathing.  

Thankfully, I got a visa to travel to the U.S. and found Immigration Equality. I spent so much time with my head down, not knowing my destiny, but when my asylum application was approved, I realized everything was worth it. It’s a feeling I can’t explain.
 

This Coming Out Day, support Immigration Equality’s work by helping me reach my goal of $1,011. Your gift will win asylum and transform the lives of LGBTQ people like me. 
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​​​​Since I arrived in the U.S. and won asylum, I started to recover, build up self-esteem, and self-love. I met my husband—now married for 12 years—and built a supportive community. I decided I would do what I wanted to do.
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I thank Immigration Equality for that freedom and the labor of love that they do.

Mikaela Rodriguez, Client 
Immigration Equality