Julie ran away from Uganda after her family burned down her house because she was transgender. Her brothers made angry villagers attack her many times before the fire happened in 2018. She escaped through the back door and made it to Kenya's Kakuma refugee camp where other LGBTQ people lived together.
Seven years later Julie still waits for Kenya to approve her asylum request. Uganda made things worse when it passed harsh laws against gay people with life prison sentences or even death penalties. Another transgender woman named Zuri also fled Uganda after attackers nearly killed her at home.
Kenya used to help LGBTQ refugees but things changed when the government took over from the United Nations. Kenyan officials stopped giving refugee status to people who faced persecution for being gay or transgender. About 4,000 LGBTQ Ugandans live in Kenya without proper papers.
Many desperate asylum seekers paid smugglers to reach South Sudan after hearing false rumors about quick approval there. They lost their money and faced even worse conditions before returning to Kenya. Some LGBTQ refugees cannot rent homes or work legally because they lack official refugee status after waiting years for approval.
Seven years later Julie still waits for Kenya to approve her asylum request. Uganda made things worse when it passed harsh laws against gay people with life prison sentences or even death penalties. Another transgender woman named Zuri also fled Uganda after attackers nearly killed her at home.
Kenya used to help LGBTQ refugees but things changed when the government took over from the United Nations. Kenyan officials stopped giving refugee status to people who faced persecution for being gay or transgender. About 4,000 LGBTQ Ugandans live in Kenya without proper papers.
Many desperate asylum seekers paid smugglers to reach South Sudan after hearing false rumors about quick approval there. They lost their money and faced even worse conditions before returning to Kenya. Some LGBTQ refugees cannot rent homes or work legally because they lack official refugee status after waiting years for approval.
