As we still struggle to secure equal rights in the US and Western Europe - how much more vulnerable are sexual minorities in the midst of civil unrest in Iraq?

“People involved [in homosexuality] should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.?
- Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

Al-Sistani is close to the Iraqi Govt and was described by GW Bush as a leading moderate.

Let's do what we can to help others like us find safety in chaos when hostile or indifferent authorities offer them no protection. If we aren't moved to act, who will be? What will happen when US troops leave?

One major priority is to keep the lines of communication open with Iraq so that we can assemble evidence of what is happening in order to persuade the international community to act.

Another priority is to support the escape route out of Iraq for LGBT people under imminent threat and support those who at their own expense and at risk of their own lives are *choosing* to help. They have expenses such as food, electricity, police protection but also those vital phone cards to keep lines of communication open.

And getting evidence out of Iraq as to what is happening to LGBT people is also vital for another reason, to prevent LGBT people who have sought refuge from these appalling conditions from being sent back.

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Of course money helps and if you have any you can pay by:

*Paypal: Account-iraqilgbt@yahoo.co.uk

or by bank to bank transfer or Standing Order
Sortcode: 400401
Account No: 12160153
or by an old fashioned cheque made out to "Iraqi LGBT" and sent to the address below.

While I urge you to consider offering financial support (no matter how small), I also encourage you to research the worthiness of the cause to your own satisfaction and to inquire of the accountability of those receiving any donation you choose to make.

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But if you can't do money there is plenty else you can do:
You can help spread the word in all kinds of ways:
1 invite all your Facebook friends to this group
2 put Iraqi LGBT in the "What's on your mind"
3 circulate your friends and networks with details
4 If you are British, write to your MP and MEP, write to Jacqui Smith at the Home Office about Asylum and or David Miliband at the FCO to express your concern at the situation. (template letters will follow).
5 If not British, write to your elected representatives.

Iraqi LGBT needs volunteers especially Arabic speakers who can take phone calls from Iraq and document them or translate things from English to Arabic or Arabic to English.

If you only speak English, you can still help by writing Press Releases and articles. A website is being worked on we need web designers and people who can get our message around the internet to maximise our impact with the minimum resources possible so that the bulk of what funding there is can be sent to Iraq, to save lives.

If you have another language, can you translate from English or Arabic, that would get this vital message to a wider audience still. Could you volunteer to be a rep for your country so that Iraqi LGBT can go GLOBAL?

The videos and links below should serve to explain what LGBT people in Iraq are facing and how "Iraqi LGBT" is trying to help. (read less)

As we still struggle to secure equal rights in the US and Western Europe - how much more vulnerable are sexual minorities in the midst of civil unrest in Iraq?

“People involved [in homosexuality] should be killed in the worst, most severe way of killing.?
- Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani

Al-Sistani is close to the Iraqi Govt and was described by GW Bush as a leading moderate.

Let's do what we can to help others like us find safety in chaos when hostile or indifferent authorities offer them... (read more)