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February 08, 2007
Canadian immigration board denies asylum to gay runaway from Mexico
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada has refused to grant a gay
runaway from Mexico asylum because they do not believe he is gay. Alvaro
Antonio Orozco, who ran away from his home country of Nicaragua when he
was twelve, was hoping to find sanctuary from the abuse he endured from
his family because of his sexuality, reports The Globe and Mail.
"My father called me 'marica' [an anti-gay slur], and told me he would
beat it out of me," Orozco, now 21, told the paper.
IRB member Deborah Lamont heard Orozco?s case via video-conference, but
concluded that she did not believe Orozco was gay. She said her reason was
that Orozco was not sexually active as a teenager, and that he also did
not specify his sexuality when he left Nicaragua.
El-Farouk Khaki, Orozco?s attorney, told The Globe and Mail that Lamont?s
decision reflected a stereotype that is founded upon the idea that gay
teens are more sexually active than straight teens.
"I think the decision shows a lack of understanding of issues facing queer
kids from homophobic cultures and what they have to deal with in terms of
gender stereotypes,
Orozco?s next move is to appeal for a ministerial permit from Immigration
Minister Diane Finley. In addition, Mr. Khaki is trying to reopen his
refugee claim.
In 1992, Nicaragua passed an amendment making same-sex relationships
illegal, and anyone campaigning for gay rights or providing same-sex
health information can be found guilty of breaking the law.
(The Advocate)