Butterfly

*****UPDATE*****

" Urgent Support Needed! We're rallying for a queer lesbian refugee facing discrimination in their transit country. Recently detained due to unauthorized work, they now risk deportation. Let's bring them to safety in Canada! Your donations, big or small, make a difference.  #RefugeeSupport #LGBTQ+"

We are a group of volunteers supporting a lesbian refugee from the Middle East to come to Vancouver, Canada!

Butterfly (anonymous name to protect the individual's safety and privacy) is currently in a transit country between the Middle East and Canada. Unfortunately, this transit country is no longer a safe option for Butterfly. Its government increasingly targets and criminalizes all LGBTQI+ individuals and calls being LGBTQI+ a “terrorist activity.”

Living in this hateful and repressive environment as a lesbian refugee is difficult: Without social networks and other supports, Butterfly lives in a limbo between their past and future life and fears for their life safety.

What Butterfly wants is to go to Canada because they want to live freely. They want to be able to be themself without discrimination from the state and society due to their gender and sexual orientation.

We work with Rainbow Refugee Society to bring Butterfly home here in Vancouver, Canada.

We are fundraising $25,000 to help Butterfly cover expenses for their first year of expenses after arriving in Vancouver. Starting a new life in a new country is always challenging, but with one year of basic living expenses to cover simple housing, good food, warm clothing, and other life necessities, you can help Butterfly land here safely and start this journey with support and stability.

Please consider making a donation to help us bring Butterfly to safety. Any and all support is greatly appreciated. We’re just excited to get to work! Thank you for being a part of our community and our story.