For Immediate Release: May 4, 2021
Contact: Ciora Thomas, ciora.thomas@sisterspgh.org, 412-297-0548
(PITTSBURGH - May 4, 2021) – SisTers PGH released the following statement regarding a partnership with Refugee Trans Initiative:
On April 16, 2021, police raided a safe house in Kenya that shelters trans refugees and activists. The violent raid occurred as the shelter residents were holding a vigil for a colleague who lost their life in a bombing at the Kakuma refugee camp earlier in the month.
The police jumped the fence, beat all of the trans women in the shelter, and arrested eight, who are all refugees. Three have already been released, but five remain in custody and cannot leave until bail is paid.
The remaining five are also in need of medical and mental health care after already spending two weeks in police custody, where trans people are not safe.
Refugee Trans Initiative operates the shelter where the raid took place and is a transgender-led organization in Kenya that aims at improving the needs and rights of transgender refugees through advocacy and shelter for vulnerable trans activists.
Homophobia and hardship are rampant in many countries in Africa, and far too many trans people are forced to flee and find shelter wherever they can. Kenya is usually seen as a rare haven, being the only East African nation where someone can seek asylum and be registered as a refugee based on their LGBT status.
But violence and discrimination, as we see, is still too common. This is why we have been partnering with Brave Space Alliance to assist RTI in moving to a safer location to do their vital work.
We are also asking our supporters, allies, and accomplices to join us in donating to RTI’s campaign to free their trans sisters from prison. We are looking to raise $5,500 to contribute to not only bail, but medical care, mental health support, and housing, as well.
Visit www.refugeetransinitiative.org to learn more or to make a donation. You can also donate via Paypal to: pemblan01@live.se.
SisTers PGH is a Black and Trans-led 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves people of color, trans, and nonbinary people within Southwestern Pennsylvania. www.sisterspgh.org
