(no subject)
You've heard in this department of the case of Alvaro Orozco, the young Nicaraguan man who fled homophobic persecution in his family and his own country, only to find himself denied refugee status because the refugee judge did not believe that he was gay.
She based this determination, made during a hearing by teleconference, on the astonishing grounds that he did not have sex with men after fleeing Nicaragua -- while he was still in his mid-teens and being harboured in the United States by religious groups that help refugees but reject homosexuality.
To find out more about his cruel and ironic situation, visit the website set up for him by activists in Toronto, at http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/ .
He has obtained a temporary deferral of two months, during which time he is pleading for the public to intervene on his behalf by writing to Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
I am therefore sending his request to you. He asks you to write letters or send faxes or e-mails asking the minister to grant him refugee status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, so that he can stay in the country. A sample letter can be found on his website at http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/sampleletter1.html , but do not be afraid to write your own letter.
The address is as follows:
Diane Finley
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-996-4974
E-mail: Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
Remember that mail to the House of Commons is postage-free.
Thanks for your help!
She based this determination, made during a hearing by teleconference, on the astonishing grounds that he did not have sex with men after fleeing Nicaragua -- while he was still in his mid-teens and being harboured in the United States by religious groups that help refugees but reject homosexuality.
To find out more about his cruel and ironic situation, visit the website set up for him by activists in Toronto, at http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/ .
He has obtained a temporary deferral of two months, during which time he is pleading for the public to intervene on his behalf by writing to Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
I am therefore sending his request to you. He asks you to write letters or send faxes or e-mails asking the minister to grant him refugee status on humanitarian and compassionate grounds, so that he can stay in the country. A sample letter can be found on his website at http://orangehabitat.com/alvaro/sampleletter1.html , but do not be afraid to write your own letter.
The address is as follows:
Diane Finley
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
Fax: 613-996-4974
E-mail: Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
Remember that mail to the House of Commons is postage-free.
Thanks for your help!