I came to England when I was 18 years old to find a safe life. In my home country of Yemen, being gay is illegal. I saw my own brother executed for who he was when I was young. I knew that if I stayed, I would face the same threat of death.
Now, I am 25. I have spent seven years building a life in Great Yarmouth. This is my home. I have friends who are like family, and I own a small shop where I sell the essentials my neighbors need every day. I work hard to be a part of this town.
When I arrived, there were safe and controlled routes for people like me. Today, I see people risking everything on small boats because they are desperate for the safety I found. No human being is “illegal” for wanting to live without fear. While not everyone in any group is perfect, we cannot judge an entire race or a whole group of people by the actions of a few.
For a long time, I felt safe here. But lately, things have changed. I have been treated like an outsider. I have been spat on, my shop windows have been smashed, and I have been told to “go home.”
The political talk from groups like Reform and Restore Britain scares me greatly. When I hear their rhetoric, I feel like I will be sent back to a place where I will be killed. It is a terrifying weight to carry every day. I urge people to think about migrants as people, not as a ‘problem.’ We are human, living and breathing. We bleed the same as anyone else. Each person coming here has their own unique story and often carries much trauma.
I believe in community. In my shop, I see the reality of how people are struggling. I have a neighbor, a local single mother with three children, who cannot always afford food and heating on Universal Credit. Every week, I provide her with free food from my shop to make sure her family is fed. We are a community; we should look out for each other, not destroy each other.
I am still learning about all the different parts of the LGBTQ+ community, like what it means to be trans. I don’t understand everything yet, but I mean no one any harm. I will always use the right pronouns because respect costs nothing.
Pride gives me hope for a better tomorrow. My message is simple: Don’t judge me for being an immigrant. Judge me for who I am and what I do. I want everyone to live happily and safely. We are stronger when we stand together.