As much as I am used to the level of acceptance that permeates throughout the Bay Area and elsewhere across the U.S, an article such as the one used for this report reminds how Latin America, despite its own levels of diversity, is still far behind in terms of equal treatment to gay and trans people.
In 2017 a caravan consisting of 11 trans women and 6 gay men made the trek from their respective Central American countries, such as Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador, formed an impromptu train of brave men and women seeking to flee the intense persecution that awaited them back home, where death would have been certain had they stayed. Self dubbed "The Rainbow Caravan," each member of this group has their own tragic story to tell. From a gay man escaping potential murder in Honduras to a trans woman escaping sexual abuse in Nicaragua, this band of outsiders successfully arrived in Nogales, Mexico, which borders Nogales, Arizona, and sought asylum into the United States through an NGO known as The Transgender Law Center succeeded in filing the proper paperwork to admit all 17 individuals into the U.S. Most found refuge in either California or New York, and some even participate in LGBTQ+ marches in support of their fellow queers.
The story of these individuals shines a positive light on instances in which immigration succeeds. The article also underlines the hardships such individuals face and the push factors that cause such things to occur. While economic betterment is usually a common reason for emigrating, for these individuals it was the fear of being murdered for being who they are that lead them to decide that the risk of trekking all the way to the U.S was a better fate than being killed by one's own country.
Thank you for reading.
Here's the BBC Article
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