To celebrate our 30th anniversary, we spoke to many of the people who are an important part of our history. Below, Sasha Taylor told us what the organisation means to her.
My name is Sasha Taylor. I currently live in the UK; I grew up between Guatemala and Mexico, where I volunteered with several organisations as a human rights activist. Thanks to this work I have spent time observing and listening to other people, and seen very closely how difficult, deplorable and unfair life is for an LGBT+ person in those countries. I know this myself through my own personal experiences; I know very well that there is no equality, respect, protection and fulfilment of LGBT+ life and human rights.
Even when I saw, lived and faced very difficult situations, I tried to survive and have a life, but there comes a time in life when the mind, and your dignity and self-respect as a human being are not enough to hold on anymore, and that is what happened to me.
Being a constant victim of sexual harassment, discrimination, physical and verbal aggression, I had no choice but to flee my country.
“I’d like to celebrate all the support Rainbow Migration gave me so I could settle in the UK, and the impact that has had on me and my life and the lives of so many other people.”
Yet once I left, I was sold and ended up as a victim of human trafficking. I managed to escape and returned to the UK, but I no longer trusted or believed in anyone. It took me days to get the courage to seek help. I eventually contacted the Samaritans, who put me in touch with other organisations, among them Rainbow Migration (then called UKLGIG).
I still remember the day of my first appointment. I arrived near the building, it was about half a block away, for a moment I thought about turning back and not going in, I was struggling emotionally, because of everything that had happened to me. I was scared and distrustful of everything and everyone, but something made me not lose faith, I took courage and went in. The receptionist asked me to wait, then a Support Worker picked me up and we went into a small room. She introduced herself; she had a very friendly face. I felt she was very serene and respectful. She asked me what they could do for me. My English was very bad at that time, so we helped each other with a translation application. I introduced myself, I told her what had happened to me, I told her that I was tired of being a victim and that I needed help. I cried and unburdened myself at that moment, because after so long finally someone listened to me.
Since then, I have remained in touch with Rainbow Migration. They helped me with my case, and found me the legal, social, medical and emotional support I needed. Thanks to all that support, today I am here, safe, and with a stable, peaceful and happy life.
I’d like to celebrate all the support Rainbow Migration gave me so I could settle in the UK, and the impact that has had on me and my life and the lives of so many other people. To have our human rights respected and protected has changed so many lives forever.
