Lesbian US soldier wins bid for asylum in Canada

Flossie · #1 November 21st, 2009, 12:34 PM

This story just makes me . . . .

Quote:

A lesbian soldier who deserted the U.S. army won a key court victory Friday when a judge ordered the refugee board to reconsider her failed asylum claim and take into account compelling evidence that she was persecuted and that her sexual orientation could mean stiffer punishment for going AWOL.

more . . .

http://www.canada.com/life/Lesbian+s...070/story.html

KathyS · #2 November 21st, 2009, 12:42 PM

She just didn't want to go to Afganistan

Flossie · #3 November 21st, 2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KathyS

She just didn't want to go to Afganistan

Well - YOU know that, and I know that - but apparently the last judge (who I'll bet is lesbian) isn't going for it.

Forgotten_Child · #4 November 21st, 2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

"At the heart of the applicant's claim is that she is a lesbian member of the U.S. army, who was harassed and threatened at the same base where a gay member of the army was beaten to death, and who feels she could not rely on her superiors to secure protection,"

Quote:

received more than 100 threatening notes on her dormitory door, including a death threat.

She didn't want to be "outed" because she was in this type of environment. She was outed anyway. I know this happened 10 years ago; but if this happened and they seriously did harass and threaten her, she had reason to be fearful. I don't condone her lifestyle, but the threats should be looked into.

Flossie · #5 November 21st, 2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forgotten_Child

She didn't want to be "outed" because she was in this type of environment. She was outed anyway. I know this happened 10 years ago; but if this happened and they seriously did harass and threaten her, she had reason to be fearful. I don't condone her lifestyle, but the threats should be looked into.

I agree 100%!

However - they should be looked into by the US courts. Why the heck she feels she needs to come up here to us for "asylum" ???? Doesn't she realize she'll never be able to go back to the US? If she does, she'll be arrested as a deserter as soon as they recognize her at the border.

She would have been much smarter to bring this matter to public attention in the US.

Forgotten_Child · #6 November 21st, 2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flossie

I agree 100%!

She would have been much smarter to bring this matter to public attention in the US.

Agreed. She is only 21 and I don't think she thought this one through. I know I didn't really plan before I acted at 21.

Flossie · #7 November 21st, 2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forgotten_Child

Agreed. She is only 21 and I don't think she thought this one through. I know I didn't really plan before I acted at 21.

Oh heck - at 21, (that was in 1971) I worked with a lot of Americans who were working up here dodging the draft. Some of them are STILL here!

frisian1970 · #8 November 21st, 2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flossie

Oh heck - at 21, (that was in 1971) I worked with a lot of Americans who were working up here dodging the draft. Some of them are STILL here!

My father in law went to Canada to avoid the draft. He is in the US now though.