Video: In Canada, campaign steps up, dances to save gay Nicaraguan

Press conference of friends and supporters of Alvaro Orozco, a gay Nicaraguan refugee who was seized by Canadian authorities 13 May, detained and could be removed at any time.



Alvaro first rose to national prominence in 2007 when his asylum claim was denied on the basis that he did not look “gay enough” for the adjudicator hearing his case via a television screen in Calgary.

Alvaro Orozco

This story was picked up by the largest newspapers in Nicaragua, effectively “outing” him to the entire country he left at age 12 due to severe physical abuse by a father who threatened to “kill any child of his that was homosexual.”

Alvaro, now 25 and established as an artist in Toronto, is still waiting for a decision on his Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application.

Friends and supporters of Alvaro are having to move quickly to stay his deportation - they are holding a demonstration in Toronto today - however there are concerns that the government is also moving quickly to remove him.

On Saturday 21 May a 'dancemob' shut down an intersection in Toronto in support of Alvaro.



Let Alvaro Stay Campaign

• facebook.com/letalvarostay
• letalvarostay@gmail.com
• YouTube - Includes video of 16 friends of Alvaro testifying for him.

• Petition 

Related articles

• Toronto youth facing deportation tells his story (xtra.ca)
• "I Won't Give Up": Queer Artist Alvaro Orozco speaks from Immigration Detention (rabble.ca)