John,

Each person is an expert in their own lives, and everyone deserves to build the future that's right for them with safety and dignity. That unshakeable principle is at the core of the IRC and our work. It's also at the heart of Pride Month.

John, I wanted to personally thank you for everything you do to support the freedom and autonomy of all people by sharing this moving impact story with you:

"Right now, I'm very happy. I have peace. I have freedom."

[link removed]

(PHOTO): Bamwanza in his "I am free" pose, at the IRC in Denver office in December 2024.

Those are the words of Bamwanza, who is building a new life in Denver after fleeing unimaginable persecution in Uganda simply for being gay.

[Read Bamwanza's full story here >>]
[link removed]

His story started in a place of terror. In Uganda, homosexuality is outlawed, meaning being gay can lead to life in prison—or worse. For Bamwanza, it meant being disowned by his family, imprisoned, tortured, and facing life-threatening violence from both authorities and community members who discovered his sexual orientation.

He survived an attack so brutal that it left him with permanent injuries, including damage to one eye that caused blindness.

When he finally escaped to a refugee camp in Kenya, Bamwanza thought he'd found safety. But even there, he faced the same discrimination and violence he'd fled from. He spent nights going to bed hungry, afraid to access services, afraid to be himself.

That's where the IRC stepped in.

We helped Bamwanza navigate the resettlement process and connected him with the support he desperately needed. In August 2024, he finally arrived in Denver—ready to start over, but still carrying the trauma of everything he'd endured.

Today, Bamwanza is working with Douglas Love, an Employment Specialist at our Denver office, to build the future he's always dreamed of. He's excited about finding employment and then enrolling in college to pursue medicine.

"They have given me peace and freedom by resettlement," he says about the IRC.

This Pride Month, Bamwanza's story reminds us why our work matters more than ever. LGBTQ+ refugees like him face multiple layers of persecution—fleeing both conflict and violence targeted specifically at their identity. When communities meet the moment with welcome and support, lives are transformed.

[Read Bamwanza's full story here >>]
[link removed]

His resilience and hope inspire everyone who meets him. As Douglas notes: "I told him one day he might be doing a job like mine, because he really enjoys helping others."

That's what Pride means to me—celebrating not just who we are, but the communities that make space for all of us to thrive.

John, thanks for being part of that community of welcome—and for everything you do to support the freedom and autonomy of all people.

—Hank @ IRC 💛

P.S. If Bamwanza's story moved you like it moved me, please consider sharing it during Pride Month. Stories like his help people understand why supporting LGBTQ+ refugees isn't just important—it's lifesaving.

[Share Bamwanza's full story here >>]
[link removed]

The International Rescue Committee | Rescue.org

[link removed]

122 East 42nd Street, New York, New York 10168-1289 USA

To ensure future delivery of IRC e-mails, please add our reply address [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

to your Address Book.

To learn how you can deepen your lasting commitment for refugee families, we invite you to explore making a gift to the IRC through your estate plan, IRA, or Donor Advised Fund here.

[link removed]

Click here

[link removed]

for U.S. federal and state compliance notices

Manage my preferences

[link removed]

or unsubscribe

[link removed]