UN Free & Equal and IOM: Apollo’s story

For many lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people, leaving their communities in search of a safer and more welcoming place to call home is the only way to find a job, get access to healthcare or find safety from poverty, family rejection, criminalization, threats and violence. For some, this means moving from a small town to the big city. For others it can require moving from one part of the world to another – surviving a dangerous journey and staggering odds in order to try to find a place where they can live openly as their true selves. But discrimination doesn’t always stop upon arrival at their destination. Many continue to face prejudice, harassment and violence both based on where they were born as well as based on their sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or sex characteristics. Unable to find a community where they truly belong, LGBTIQ+ migrants often struggle with loneliness, helplessness and depression. For those who also face marginalization for other reasons, such as their race, ethnicity, age, gender, disabilities, religion or other characteristics, the situation can get even more precarious. Every human being deserves the freedom to simply be themselves, without facing violence and discrimination. Together we can create a future free from prejudice, where everyone truly belongs – no matter who they are, whom they love or where they come from. Help us spread these stories of determination and resilience by sharing our videos with the people in your life! Learn more: https://www.unfe.org/migrants/