Gay refugee claimants seeking haven in Canada

[Iceburg]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040424/REFUGEES24/National/Idx

By MARINA JIMENEZ
Saturday, April 24, 2004 - Page A7

Canada is seeing a surge in the number of refugee claimants who say they are homosexuals and will be persecuted if they are returned to their homelands.

In the past three years, nearly 2,500 people from 75 different countries have sought asylum on the basis of sexual orientation, according to information released under the Access to Information Act.

It is not known how many have been allowed to stay in Canada; the Immigration and Refugee Board does not track acceptance rates by case type.

The surge in applications is being driven both by bogus claims and a growing view of Canada as a haven for persecuted homosexuals, refugee experts say.

The largest number came from Mexico, with 602, and Costa Rica, with 276 -- both democracies with thriving homosexual communities, annual Gay Pride Day parades and websites offering everything from gay weddings to gay tour operators.

Many claimants also come from Muslim countries, where homosexuality is outlawed, while a small number hail from Ireland, Britain, the United States and even the Netherlands, one of the few countries to legalize gay marriage.


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[freetobegay]

1. I hope Canada is ready for the mass exodus

from the United States at the end of the year, if God forbid Chimpys gets this election.

[joeybee12]

2. If a person came from a Muslim country, and said he was gay, I would

let him in, no questions asked. It's horrific how badly gays are treated in such countries. As ignorant as many people are in this country, as well as our elected officials, we've got it made compared to them. Granted, we're still second class citizens, but for the most part we don't have to fear for our lives.