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Yury

When I escaped from Ukraine, I went first to Poland and then to Italy, where I sought political asylum. In one of the shelters I was before I came to Casa+, I felt very lonely.

© Marco Zeppetella

He is Yury and he comes from Ukraine. He came to Italy to escape the war; he went first to Poland and then to Italy, where he sought political asylum. He tells that his country isn’t very welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people. Before coming to Casa+ he was in another shelter, where he felt very lonely and marginalized.

Yury is looking for a place in Italy where he can restart his life and feel welcome; he would like to learn Italian in order to study and work. He would also like to continue the studies he had undertaken in Ukraine before he escaped.

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Jean-Loïc

“My partner was lynched by the crowd. Neither the police nor the justice system protected me. I had to flee my country to stay alive.”
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Emelyne

“One of the first requests here is for a cocoon, a space to call your own.”
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Rodrigo

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Judit

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Jade

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Emmanuel

“It is necessary to develop reception and accommodation facilities for LGBTIQ+ exiles in order to provide them with inclusive, caring and safe spaces. The multiplication of these centres across France will facilitate their asylum application process and their integration.”
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Claudia

“Trans people are vulnerable in a system that does not have a gender perspective adequate to their needs.”
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Zein

“We come here to have peace and to live our lives as human beings.”
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Arsène

“We need LGBTIQ+ associations in the reception centres. I didn’t have that.”
Watch Arsène's video testimony

Hzani

“I was rejected by my family because I am trans. All my life I have been abused and institutions have never protected me.”
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Rajae

“Being a lesbian in Morocco is so taboo that people wonder if it really exists.”
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Sara

“Take the time to learn about LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers’ specific needs.”
Watch Sara's video testimony

Juan

I left my home country because of discrimination and harassment by the police. Casa+ is the second community experience in Italy for me; before that, I was in another shelter, in which I have been mistreated by other beneficiaries.
Read Juan's testimony

Filomena

Casa+ users are extremely vulnerable and fragile people; understanding their needs means listening to them and giving them support, as well as a dignity often denied to them because of repeated episodes of discrimination and isolation.
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Joana

“I grew up in an environment of hatred, I was surrounded by hatred.”
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Huguette

“When I was made visible, I had to leave everything, I was threatened with death.”
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Adil

“The procedure can take 2, 3 or even 5 years sometimes. During this time we live in stress and fear.”
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Antonio

In many societies, LGBTQIA+ people are victims of severe human rights violations, violence, torture and aggression. The need is to rebuild self-confidence, trust in authorities and institutions, and to make people aware of their identity and proud of themselves.
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Rainbow Welcome!

The #RainboWelcome project is co-financed by the REC programme of the European Union, and will be implemented from September 2020 to August 2022. 

The project is coordinated by POUR LA SOLIDARITÉ–PLS, an independent European think & do tank committed to promoting solidarity and sustainability in Europe.

Co-funded by the Programme Rights, Equality
and Citizenship of the European Union
(2014-2020)

This website and the project content reflects the views of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Rainbow Welcome! visual universe

Rainbow Welcome! visual identity has been developed by Alison Roger France, in collaboration with PLS and all the partners. 

She studied the complexity of sexuality, sexual orientations, genders, gender expressions, identities, sexual characteristics, fluidity between the various spectrums, etc. She also adopted a reflective creation process including refugees’ journey in life and on earth to finally come with those organic forms whose nasting, movements and textures aim at illustrating the multiplicity and complexity of each and all individuals. Of course, the colours of the LGBTIQ+ flag have been used. The whole is wanted to be dynamic, intriguing and … positive. Our message is the one of reception and inclusion, as stated in our motto “Rainbow refugees, WELCOME!”.