Hi Friend,

In late 2021, we all watched in horror as the United States withdrew from Afghanistan, and the Taliban took control.

LGBTQ Afghans are one of the most vulnerable populations under Taliban rule. They are at risk of persecution or even death, simply for being who they are. That is why Immigration Equality expanded our work to an international setting for the first time in our 25-year history.

Last fall, our staff took calls from over a hundred LGBTQ Afghan people who were desperately seeking a path to safety. 

While the United States has done little to support our population, Canada has opened its doors, and has invited U.S. NGOs to refer our pre-vetted contacts and steward them through the Canadian asylum process.

We are currently providing free legal services to 30 LGBTQ Afghan clients.

A major barrier to this work has been language access. As we do not have any Dari or Pashto speakers on-staff, we utilize translation services to communicate with our clients, but a single application can require lengthy documentation and multiple hours of work. Our clients fled to countries that are still dangerous for LGBTQ people, and where being LGBTQ is a crime. Language access is needed now, and it is the first access point to a safe and free life, and when it is unavailable, it's impossible to serve someone in desperate need. 

That is where you come in. Support for Immigration Equality can be used to sponsor an LGBTQ Afghan’s translation services so that our clients can win asylum and live a safe, free life without fear.

Your contribution supports the following work: