Last year we marched at Pride in opposition to the EDL, who attempt to mask their message of hatred by falsely claiming to support the LGBTQI community.

We are inspired by the Movement for Justice (MFJ) who marched at the London Pride earlier this month. They are a civil rights movement of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and their allies who fight for the Right to Asylum for LGBTQI people.

We invite you to join us on the Bristol Pride Parade 2013 to march in solidarity with MFJ and with LGBTQI refugees in Bristol.

People come to the UK from around the world fleeing persecution and seeking the freedom to live and love openly and safely. For example, the recent anti-gay laws passed in Russia may mean more LGBTQI asylum applications here. According to International Law they must be granted asylum if they fled persecution on the basis of their sexuality. However, the UK Border Agency is repeatedly refusing people’s applications, using degrading ‘gay test’ that many of us would fail.

Jackie Nanyonjo was a Ugandan lesbian who escaped anti-gay persecution and a brutal forced marriage. She then went through the mental torture of the UK immigration and asylum system, with its arbitrary, subjective decisions and impossible demands to ‘prove that you are a lesbian’. Her application was refused and she was forcibly deported. She tried to resist on the plane but later died from injuries inflicted by the UKBA guards.

As a member of the MFJ Jackie fought against racism and homophobia. We continue her struggle to make sure that no one should suffer the same fate again.

We oppose the UK government’s racist immigration laws which make life unbearable for those who are here and puts their lives in danger if they are deported.

We demand the Right to Asylum for all LGBTQI people, and an end to deportations.

Open Borders, Freedom and Equality for All

Related Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/503588179714406/