In Search of Safety and Community: Forced Migration of LGBTQ+ people

A social-justice forum is being offered on Sunday, June 18, from 11:10-11:55 in the Nativity Hall. This forum is sponsored by the St. Michael’s Immigrant Welcoming Congregation (IWC) and Outreach & Justice teams. In response to a resolution passed at the 2022 General Convention, Episcopal Migration Ministries created the Rainbow Initiative to spotlight forced migration of LGBTQ+ people to the US, the issues they face, and the question of why we as people of faith should care about them.

Come to meet a young Iranian-American with passion for education and social justice. Born and raised in Tehran where homosexuality is illegal, he faced many challenges growing up as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. As a young man, he made the difficult decision to leave his home, family and community because it was too dangerous for him to remain.

Come listen to the story of his journey as an asylum-seeker in Turkey and eventually as a refugee in Portland in search of safety and community. He will share how the intersection of his identities informs his understanding of the world and everything he does. Please join us as we learn about this important issue and explore how we as members of a faith-community can support LGBTQ+ people forced by persecution to leave their homes for a new country and culture.