Defending the Human Rights of LGBT & HIV+ Immigrants & Refugees
I was privileged to attend a conference in Chicago IL on March 26th and 27th. It was a great conference and afforded me the opportunity to represent the agency (AIDS Project Worcester) and the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force. Lisa Weinberg Esq., myself, and Pastor Judith Hanlon were the only participants attending from Massachusetts (Worcester).
We sat on a panel which address strategies to reach the LGBT & HIV+ individuals and also challenges that LGBT & HIV+ immigrants/refugees face. One major position of the panel discussion was that there was a need to foster greater community partnership with CBOs and ASOs.
Synopsis of My Presentation
My name is Linford Cunningham and I am an American Refugee who currently works at AIDS Project Worcester, Inc. I am also cofounder of the LGBT Asylum Support Task Force. I have worked with the LGBT and HIV+ community since 1993 and was formerly employed at Jamaica AIDS Support For Life and Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-sexuals and Gays.
*Some Difficulties/Challenges
· Finding Legal Support
· Fear of being reported to Immigration due to HIV status
· Lack of Psycho-social Support
· Inadequate Social Support
· Fear of remaining within ones own culture due to sexuality and further rejection
· Fear of being an Advocating sparking country reprisals/backlash
· Basic Needs *Clothing, Shelter, Food*
· Lack of Psychological/Metal Support to address PTSD, etc.
· Spiritual Support
*Some Outreach Strategies (Which were elaborated on)
1. Expansion of funding criteria and possibilities to address the challenges.
2. Networking and partnerships needs to be established or strengthened to address growing/emerging needs.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns
4. Empowering Refugees/Asylees/Immigrants
Personal Highlights
· During the conference I learned that the US currently has an agreement with Mexico where if the US is deporting a Mexican Immigrant they have to provide medical services in the form of suitable medication so that the deportee can have access to quality care upon their return.
· I also learned that the interviewing process “Know your Rights?” which is usually conducted at the detention centers lacks privacy and at most did not allow for individuals to share their primary reasons for entering the country legally or undocumented. I also learned that a request for release on humanitarian grounds could be submitted on behalf of HIV+ detainees where possible and it can be justified.
· I also learned that there were ways individuals could be brought into the US via United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR); however, this process can be very tasking and has its own challenges around prejudices and biases on the part of the UN field officers.
· In addition we addressed in brief the issue of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) which proposes changes to address the needs of immigrants and LGBT individuals. Currently only Senator Edward Kennedy from MA has not re-signed to the proposed bill.
In general it was a great conference.
If you have any questions please feel free to post to this blog.
Linford