Help Alex stay in the UK

Aim: To help Alex stay in the UK to escape LGBTQ persecution

My name is Alex—well, not really, but it’s the name I would have chosen for myself, or the one I may choose in the future. I’m a non-binary lesbian from a country where the authorities believe people like me don’t exist—or, once they realise we do, they would execute us. That’s the whole reason my official name is not mentioned in this text.

I moved to the UK in the middle of the pandemic, in 2020, to continue my studies in Brighton. At least, that’s the story I tell people. But the truth is, the night before I left, my father told me not to come back. I’ve been fortunate enough to find a job in London. For the first two years, I was on a graduate visa. After that, I needed sponsorship to continue living safely here. The company did sponsor me the first time. However, for the second round of sponsorship, I was asked to pay £8,000. Now, that amount might not be significant to a corporate organisation, but it’s very significant to me.

You might ask, why haven’t I sought asylum if I truly needed it? I didn’t—because I thought I wanted to take the road less travelled. I wanted to contribute to society, and I wanted to leave space for my fellow siblings who needed the opportunity to stay in this country.

A bit about me? I love travelling, but with the passport I currently hold, I can’t go to many countries. So to fulfil my love for travel, I read books. That’s how I visit different places—through their literature. I love listening to human experiences and their stories, which is why, last year, I challenged myself and solo-travelled to Colombia for my birthday.

I absolutely hate dating apps. In an attempt to escape them, I tried doing stand-up comedy. But soon enough, I realised I couldn’t continue down that path. What if someone from my country saw it and reported me? The idea of execution is like a shadow that follows me—everywhere, every day, and in everything I do.

I haven’t been able to return to my country since I left—again, because of that same shadow. And, well, my parents aren’t supportive or accepting of my sexuality either.

I mostly find myself in other people’s poetry. But honestly, the line that resonates with me the most is one by Taylor Swift: “You’re on your own, kid. You always have been.”

I’d love to share a picture of myself with you, but to avoid that shadow, please accept some shots I took of my favourite things instead.

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This project successfully funded on 17th July 2025