UNITED STATES – Dec. 11, 2018 – Today, tech nonprofit AsylumConnect launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign with the goal of raising $25,000.00 to improve, scale and market the first ever online resource catalog for LGBTQ asylum seekers across the U.S.
It is still illegal to be gay in 72 countries. As a result, every year, thousands of LGBTQ immigrants and asylum seekers come to the U.S. fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Yet, upon arrival, many do not know where it is safe to go for help during the complex and lengthy asylum process – fearing ‘help’ will discriminate due to their LGBTQ identity.
Under the current administration, the crisis has worsened. A massive backlog in asylum applications, means that LGBTQ would-be asylees, who typically have access to even fewer resources and options for legal counsel than other asylum seekers, are left in limbo for years.
The AsylumConnect catalog helps LGBTQ asylum seekers find safe, high-quality resources during the U.S. asylum process. Without this free resource database, persecuted LGBTQ peoples’ lifesaving questions go unanswered. Since 2016, AsylumConnect has helped over 7,000 find safe resources.
“At AsylumConnect, we’re leveraging open-source technology to bridge the existing information gap, and enable LGBTQ asylum seekers to know all of the safe options available to them in real-time,” said Katie Sgarro, AsylumConnect Co-Founder and President. “Once our resource catalog reaches scale, there should never be a time when someone doesn’t know where it’s safe to go for help due to their LGBTQ identity or immigration status.”
If successful, this campaign will enable AsylumConnect to dramatically improve and scale its services at a pivotal moment in the U.S. Campaign donations will be used for technology (to improve and scale the first ever online resource database for LGBTQ asylum seekers), and marketing (to ensure AsylumConnect’s lifesaving technology reaches all LGBTQ asylum seekers in the U.S., both across the country and at the border who need help now).
Make a tax-deductible donation today: www.gofundme.com/asylumconnect.
About AsylumConnect:
Co-founded by a lesbian and gay asylum seeker at the University of Pennsylvania, AsylumConnect is a tech nonprofit providing LGBTQ asylum seekers with the verified information and community they need to safely integrate in their new home. The AsylumConnect catalog, available on web and mobile, is the first ever online resource database for LGBTQ asylum seekers. The catalog currently helps LGBTQ asylum seekers find safe, high-quality resources during the U.S. asylum process. Nonprofits and lawyers also use the catalog to gather verified resource referrals for LGBTQ clients. AsylumConnect is now partnering with Y Combinator-backed tech nonprofit One Degree to improve and scale its resource catalog across the U.S. Since 2016, the catalog has helped over 7,000 find safe resources in the U.S. Supporters include: Clinton Foundation, MCJ/Amelior Foundation, U.S. Committee for Refugees & Immigrants (USCRI), Harris & Frances Block Foundation, Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
For more information, visit: www.asylumconnect.org.
Media ContactCompany Name: AsylumConnect Contact Person: Press TeamEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: www.asylumconnect.org
