“It is our humanity that encompasses all the parts of who we are and is greater than any or all of them. We are human beings before we are anything else.”
We Are One by Simenon Honoré
Spirit of the Rainbow has at its core the experience of oneness. Our shared humanity comes before any call upon our loyalty such as those of our country or religion. Translating that idea into action is a challenge we all face. This is the story of one of our contributors, Pliny, in taking up that challenge in working with refugees.
.1.jpg "Walking to freedom")
From Ideals to Action Activism and campaigning are deeply rooted in who I am. For me, it is important to fight for ideals, for liberation and for a better future. Yet while hope of a better tomorrow can be powerful, it is equally important to ground those ideals in direct, tangible support, especially for people, people in vulnerable positions. These people need the help right now, not just promises of a better tomorrow. An inspiration here has been Voltaire who despite being a philosopher, built a farm in Ferney, France and empowered the peasants in bettering their daily lives, economically and culturally.
Moreover, I see myself a global citizen – a cosmopolitan – as I embrace the history and culture of our common humanity. Gravitating towards working in a charity felt natural and this led me to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which is a human rights organisation with a strong LGBT+ focus that also supports LGBT+ refugees.
.jpg "Pliny at Gay Pride")
Pliny Soocoormanee at a Pride march.
The Journey with Rainbow Refugees
LGBT+ refugees face unique and often devastating challenges when seeking asylum. Many of them did not choose this path willingly. There is no Thomas Cook for refugees. They would have gladly stayed in their home countries if it were safe. But they were persecuted, threatened, and in some cases violently attacked simply for being who they are – that is being lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans people, part of a sexual minority that is often the scapegoat of all the ills in certain societies. In these communities, they are often treated as pariahs, hunted down by people claiming to avenge so call ‘honour’, discriminated, harassed, beaten up and some have even been killed.
These individuals often arrive in the UK having left behind everything: their homes, families, communities. People who yesterday were their friends suddenly turned foe and wanted to kill or harm them. Here they are in this foreign country where they know no one, have no resources, face a complex and often hostile asylum system. The Home Office process can be long and emotionally draining, and for some, it can include time in a detention centres, a euphemism for being sent to prison.
.jpg "Getting things sorted")
Pliny Soocoormanee with members of the Out and Proud African LGBTI group
This journey is anything but easy. When I hear their stories, when I see the pain in their eyes, I say to myself this could have been me as well in another life. We need to act with compassion. If there are any ways I can lighten that burden, if I can offer hope, if I can provide encouragement, then I am making a difference. In fact, as it says in our Education for Humanity project, “our world is full of knowledgeable people but they cannot provide all the answers to the challenges our planet faces. We need people with integrity, honesty, compassion and above all humanity.”
Each person’s story is different. That sounds simple, but it holds so much. Behind every asylum claim is a lifetime of experiences, some joyful, many traumatic and no two are ever exactly the same. Some people are ready to talk openly, others are guarded, carrying deep pain or fear. Trust does not come automatically, it’s something built slowly, over time, with consistency and respect. This is why sometimes we can take up to a year before we at the Foundation decide to issue a letter of support to help them with their case.
Defending Dignity, Delivering Justice to the Voiceless
I am often dealing with incredibly sensitive issues, memories of violence, estrangement from family, isolation, and the painful reality of hiding one’s identity for survival. But amidst all that, there is also the work of empowerment.
It is not just about meeting immediate needs but about walking with people as they start to reclaim agency over their lives. That can mean supporting someone through their first Pride event, helping them find affirming housing - that is accommodation when they feel they don’t need to hide their sexuality and who they are – or even just being there to listen when they begin to speak their truth aloud for the first time.
Sadly, a minority of people do not speak the truth, worse they falsely claim to be LGBT+ to secure asylum. While they might be escaping an oppressive regime, they are taking advantage of our goodwill and they are making it enormously harder for genuine people claiming asylum. This is sad and it does happen, yet it does not deter me from helping others.
.jpg "Friends know no boundaries")
Pliny Soocoormanee with Ugandan Edrisa Kiyemba
Finally, there is a bittersweet part of this work too. Sometimes, once people gain refugee status and start to find their footing, they want to move on quickly and that includes moving on from the support spaces that held them in their hardest moments, I understand it as a sign of growth and healing. It is more than just turning a page, rather like changing a whole book. The moment they receive their refugee status, I feel that with others, I have helped save a life. Now is the time for their renewal, now is the time to start a new journey, a time of emancipation and a new life.
By Pliny Soocoormanee with Simenon Honoré
The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Spirit of the Rainbow as a whole.
Discover more about our oneness and shared humanity with We Are One – A Manifesto for Humanity by Simenon Honoré
Find out more about our Education for Humanity project.
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