Come and show your support for Aderonke Apata, and show the UK government that we don't stand for homophobia, for racism, for xenophobia! ## ABOUT ADERONKE ## "Your support over this period of my campaigning to remain safe in the UK has been enormous and unflinching. Sadly, there's still an hurdle to cross." Many of you would have met freedom fighting Aderonke, as part of her determined campaigning on LGBT issues and more. Feminist and human right activist, Aderonke is a Nigerian-born out and proud lesbian seeking asylum in the UK. She fled torture and the threat of death for being a lesbian in Nigeria, and has proved to be an unstoppable force in fighting for justice. In spite of terrible violence and human rights violations, Aderonke has chosen to stand up not only for herself, but for others who have experienced injustice. Aderonke grew up in Nigeria where being gay or transgender is illegal. Aderonke was arrested, tortured and extorted by the Nigerian Police and forced to endure the murder of three members of her family and girlfriend. When sentenced to death by a Nigerian Sharia court, Aderonke had no other choice than to flee to the UK and seek asylum. Aderonke has garnered almost 320,000 signatures online for her personal campaign to remain in the UK because she is a lesbian from Nigeria who is open, out and proud. Setting an example through this struggle fighting for her own freedom to stay here in the UK, she fights tirelessly for other people's freedom too and continue to challenge the government and legal system that penalises the many LGBT refugees seeking asylum in the UK. "Fleeing persecution for homosexuality in Nigeria, Aderonke has become a champion for the rights of many. Being Gay is still illegal in over 70 countries across the world, and in five of these, 'same-sex sexuality activity' carries the death penalty". The long awaited Judicial Review Hearing of her asylum claim to remain in the UK is coming up at the Royal Courts of Justice. Despite being a well-known LGBT activist and winner for prestigious LGBT leadership awards: * Winner Positive Role Model for LGBT National Diversity Awards 2014: "The battle for enhancing the equality agenda has a new representative; Aderonke Apata" http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/2014-winners/ * #41 on the fabulous RainbowList2014 of the Independent Sunday Newspaper's 1-101 most influential LGBT people in the UK http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/therainbowlist/rainbow-list-2014-1-to-100-9848457.html * Patron of the amazing Proud2Be Project http://www.proud2beproject.org/about-us/patrons/ * Board of Trustee member of the incredible Broken Rainbow http://www.brokenrainbow.org.uk/ * BAME Officer of LGBT Labour National Committee http://www.lgbtlabour.org.uk/national_committee our Aderonke remains at risk of deportation to her death so as long as the UK Home Office remains unwilling to admit that Aderonke is a lesbian. More info on the campaign: http://novaramedia.com/2014/04/interview-with-aderonke-apata/ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/aderonke-apata-deportation-case-if-the-home-office-doesnt-believe-im-gay-ill-send-them-a-video-that-proves-it-9509738.html ## PLAN FOR THE DAY ## We want to get SO MANY people along that we literally PACK the whole court room. If we succeed, and some people can't fit in, then we'll keep up a presence outside the court with banners and placards, to spread the word about Aderonke's case - and then switch places so everyone can get a chance to go in and support. The court day starts at 9am, so we're going to meet at 8:30am as they may not let us in whilst the court is in session - though you're still welcome if you can only come later! It'd be great if you could bring: * AS MANY SUPPORTERS AS POSSIBLE! Share this event, and invite your friends! * PLACARDS AND SIGNS about Aderonke's case. You can make your own, or use the ones Aderonke made (at https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B7ZZ4V3Rxjr1LUlHWEtvT0xYQWs&usp=sharing). * RAINBOW FLAGS if you have them. This is a specific request from Aderonke! Aderonke's also asked that we keep any presence from being loud - e.g. no chanting outside the court, no hassle inside the court - because she doesn't want to annoy the court and affect her case. ## WHO ELSE IS SUPPORTING ADERONKE ## (in no particular order!) * Africanrainbowfamily * Manchester MiSol (Migrant Solidarity) * London Black Revs * Sex Worker Open University * NovaraMedia * Out & Proud Diamond Group * LGBT Unity + Unity Centre Glasgow * The Glass Is Half Full * Never Again Ever * South London Solidarity Federation and North London Solfed * South London Anti-Fascists * London Campaign Against Police and State Violence * UK Black Pride * Proud2Be * Unite The Union NW/389 * Broken Rainbow UK * Lesbian Immigration Support Group (LISG) * Right to Remain * Unison LGBT * Safety4Sisters * Women Asylum Seekers Together * SOAS Detainee Support (SDS) Let's pack the courtroom! Aderonke must stay
