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1)
domestic violence I underwent in my
family and the important reason for which I escaped. I still
could not speak openly about my sexual orientation in front of
heterosexuals because of the physical and psychological torture
I had been subject to because of my sexual orientation from a
very young age. I have deeply ingrained aversion to
acknowledging my homosexuality to other people, especially if I
think they are heterosexual.
2)
On January 19 I was determined
eligible to make a claim for refugee protection in Canada and
allowed to enter the country. When I took a bus from Fort Erie
to Toronto, I didn’t know anyone nor where to go. An officer
gave me the address for Covenant House where I stayed for two
months in early 2005. When I made it to Toronto and realized
that life is so different here when it comes to gay people, I
felt very impressed because I had never seen anything like it in
my life.
3)
After four months of living in
Toronto, I finally felt safe enough to stop trying to act
straight. I came to understand that the law here protects me.
I feel safe. Knowing that gay people can marry here is
important to me, and it shows I could be respected by society
as a human being, and even be with someone I love – my whole
life I have hoped that some day I should be with someone I love
for the rest of my life. This is now possible in a way accepted
by society.
4)
In this environment, I felt safe
enough to tell my lawyer – unlike the U.S., I now had one
provided by Legal Aid – I was gay.
5)
Toronto’s Gay Village was the first
time I had seen many gay men ‘out’ in public. This was the first
time I saw them as a social group I could legitimately belong
to. I had seen some isolated gay men in Miami, but at
that time I belonged and relied on the church and could never
identify with them openly.
6)
My first hearing before Canada’s
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) took place on October 6th,
2005, in Toronto by teleconference with Calgary. The Member did
not believe I am gay. I was very nervous at the hearing. I was
asked questions that I was not prepared for. I have only 6
years of education. I also have a disability in that I
stutter. My stuttering becomes worse when I am nervous. I
stuttered a lot in my hearing.
7)
Since I arrived in Canada in
January 19th 2005, I waited for around 4 months to get my work
permit and social insurance number. Once I got them, I started a
new life being independent, working in construction with “Across
Canada Construction Trezzi Group”, for more than 15 months. In
the context of my gay life in Toronto I have made a lot of gay
friends who have accepted me and brought me into their circles,
and I have felt comfortable with the gay life I lead. I had
never experienced this in my life. It is my wish to pursue this
free life here in Canada, where gay people’s human rights are
respected, where we are respected as persons and there are laws
that protect us. This makes me feel confident in leading a safe
life, without discrimination and without abuse of power by
religious forces. I never imagined to be a member of a gay
Church where everyone shares the same ideal of a free life, gays
and lesbians under the same roof. My first experience was in the
MCC, or Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. It has been a
great experience for me.
8)
I am now facing deportation to the
United States where I may be detained. I will eventually be
deported to Nicaragua where I fear for my life and my safety.
Gay and Lesbain people face not only laws that criminalize
sodomy, but a machista culturew herein they are subject to
blackmail, violence ands even death because of their sexual
orientation.
9)
I am visibly gay. Since living in
Canada I have come to accept my self and live openly as a gay
man. This is not possible in Nicaragua where I fear that I will
face violence and even death because I am gay.
10)
I implore the Canadian government
to intervene and allow me to stay in Canada so that I may live
without fear of my safety and life.
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