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" I have patience until I die or find real help from one of the individuals, groups or organizations, and I am waiting for help from God." Donate here to help Sultan: https://gofund.me/7142b7f7   These are Sultan’s own words, but as English is not Sultan’s first language, I have taken the liberty of making small changes to grammatical and spelling errors when I deemed it necessary for comprehension.  Sultan gives you many details of daily life in the camp, but he also relays his thoughts on the probable closure of the camp.   As you will see, things in the camp have gotten worse, but as I often tell myself that I should let Sultan speak directly to you.  So, here we go! “…As for the police, since the Kenyan government announced its intention to close the Kakuma refugee camp in 2021, they detain refugees in an arbitrary way. And for the sake of the release from prison, arbitrarily they ask for money. As a result, the local population created many problems with the re...

“SOLITARY, POOR, NASTY, BRUTISH, AND SHORT” Donate here to help Sultan: https://gofund.me/7142b7f7   What is HOME to you, dear reader? Is it where you were born? Is it where you live now?  Do you own the place in which you live? If you’re a renter, are you protected against unwarranted eviction?  Do you have a right to keep your property inside the four walls you occupy? Can you receive mail there? Are you pretty sure you’ll be able to live there tomorrow? Can you place your name above the door?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you do not live in a refugee camp. The main issue for refugees such as my friend Sultan in his camp is the insecurity of their “homes.” The roof leaks, the toilet is a hole in the ground outside, and there are no real doors. But worst of all, at any moment now, the camp itself may be closed and razed… In 2021, the Kenyan government announced its intentions to close the Kakuma refugee camp permanently. “UNHCR has been inform...

“Scorpions! That's one reason  I want to get out of here!” -Sultan, an LGBT refugee from Yemen   Donate here to help Sultan: https://gofund.me/7142b7f7     Take a moment and look up at your ceiling. Do it right now. What do you see? Chances are, not much. But in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, you can probably see the sky peeking through small holes the roof over your head.  If you are lucky, that's all you see. Yes, a hole in the roof can let in the rain, but it's better than what you might find staring back at you from the ceiling on other occasions: a scorpion! “Scorpions, poisonous insects and other reptiles spread throughout the camp and enter the homes and rooms where we live and sleep. It's hard to sleep.”   Known as the Kenyan Deathstalker, this little fellow is not a good roommate.  But, as Sultan has shown me, the Kenyan Deathstalker seems to do what its name implies, it stalks you.  Symptoms of their sting include muscle twitching, sw...

The gay dating app situation in Switzerland is... #sad!      Perhaps it is not known in the hetero world out there how dismal the gay dating situation is in Switzerland. I have been around the world. In no country where gay sex is fully legal have I seen such a mess of blank profiles.        Everyone in Switzerland is "on the down low." I am not bashing people who just want sex. Go for it. But could you learn to say hello and post a picture and a stat or two? And what about people who have to hide because coming out wouldn't be safe for them... That is precisely the problem with Switzerland!! People don't feel safe to be out... in this "liberal democracy..." That is what is SAD.      But, a Picture Tells a thousand words... And a moving-picture probably a million. Take a look at the two videos. The first is an English and the second is in French. And what about you Jeremy, what about your profile?  Gurl please, I'm miles ahea...

  Guest Post: Henck Röling Always surrounded by flower      Henck Röling is, according to his bio, an "artist, florist, gardener, singer, [&] rebel." He's by far the biggest name to have contributed to this little blog of mine so far, and I am very grateful for the words he has blessed us with.  Almost on a daily basis, I am privy to his amazing outfits, a few of which I have screen-grabbed and posted here.  You can find out more about him and his amazing art on his Instagram page or his website .  I really am appreciative of the story he has to tell, which is an inspiring one!  Read on...        My name is Henck, I am 48 years old and was born and grew up in the Netherlands. We were a good Catholic family, there were six children and I was the Benjamin. We lived on an old farm, surrounded by meadows, cut up by the little canals that make Holland famous. That space gave us children freedom to play for hours. Classmat...

Guest Post: A Man from Peshawar  Trapped by two realities      The Pew Research Center has stated that "Pakistan [is] one of the [countries] least accepting of homosexuality with 87% of those surveyed saying 'Homosexuality should not be accepted by society.'"( 1 )  Things are not all bad, though.  Like in Iran, transgender people have relatively good legal protection and recognition in Pakistan.  " 49% agreed that they should have the same rights, 51% believed they should be protected from employment discrimination and 44% believed they should be allowed to change their legal gender."( 2 )      However, being an ex-Muslim classifies one as being a so-called blasphemer and constitutes an even more serious offense than same-sex relationships under Pakistani law.  "Use of derogatory remarks, spoken, written, directly or indirectly, etc. defiles the name of Muhammad or other Prophet(s)" carries a " Mandatory Death and fine" ( 3 )....