Give Me Shelter From The Storm

’Twas in another lifetime, one of toil and blood
When blackness was a virtue and the road was full of mud
I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of form
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”
Lyrics by Bob Dylan 1974 & 1976 Ram's Horn Music

More trans-people are fleeing their country to seek asylum because they fear for their lives…

Mexican transgender asylum seeker allowed to stay in U.S.
By Felisa Cardona
The Denver Post

When Alexandra Reyes' father caught her wearing her sister's shoes and clothes, he tied her up and beat her with spiked pieces of a tree.

"It was so horrible, I would scream," Reyes said in Spanish. "He told me he had a son, not a daughter, and he did not accept me."

Reyes, 32, was born a boy named Carlos but began living life as a girl at age 8, infuriating her traditional Mayan family in Cenotillo, Mexico. One night, an aunt walked into Reyes' bedroom and tried to kill her with a machete because she didn't want Reyes in the family.

The Mexican police wouldn't arrest Reyes' abusers. So 10 years ago, she paid a smuggler to get her across the border. She walked four days and four nights through the desert into the U.S. and made it to Colorado, where a friend told her she would be safe. […]
Last week, an immigration judge granted Reyes a form of asylum that allows her to stay in the U.S. based on the persecution she suffered as a transgender woman in Mexico.

The Board of Immigration Appeals withheld her removal from the U.S. after determining the Mexican government would not protect her from abuse if she was deported.

And if I pass this way again, you can rest assured
I’ll always do my best for her, on that I give my word
In a world of steel-eyed death, and men who are fighting to be warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

The first trans-person to be granted asylum to the U.S. was back in 2008 during the Bush administration

Asylum for transgender individuals? US say 'yes' to Indonesian case

For the first time, The United States have granted asylum to an Indonesian transsexual as Michelle Saraswati, 42, formerly known as Michael Setiabudi, won her case at the San Fransisco Immigration Court in July.

Not a word was spoke between us, there was little risk involved
Everything up to that point had been left unresolved
Try imagining a place where it’s always safe and warm
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

They are not just fleeing here, but also to other countries…

Mahtab, an Iranian Transsexual, is at Risk of Deportation
(April 7, 10)

Mahtab Mirghaderi is a male to female transsexual and she left Iran for Turkey with her boyfriend, Saleh Shahsavar, in June 2007 due to social problems and fear of threat for his boyfriend’s family safety. Unfortunately after waiting a long time for their asylum, they got a letter from the office from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Turkey stating that their file was rejected a few times and they decided to close their case. They do not have any protection in Turkey and now, due to local circumstances they have to go back to their country since UNHCR did not recognize them as refugees and they risk being deported back if they do not leave Turkey voluntarily. IRQR shares its deep concern about Mahtab and Saleh’s situation due to many reasons, including the fear of their lives being in danger. They need international protection as refugees.

She is now seeking asylum in Canada.

I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail
Poisoned in the bushes an’ blown out on the trail
Hunted like a crocodile, ravaged in the corn
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”

Transsexual who feared prison at home qualifies for refugee status

By Bernard Lane
The Australian
March 03, 2010

A MALAYSIAN transsexual who feared prison, whipping and life as a prostitute if returned home has qualified for refugee status as a member of a persecuted social group.

The Refugee Review Tribunal emphasised her poverty, powerlessness and inability to get an identity card as a female, which would have allowed her to work.

The 38-year-old Hindu Malay was born male, had a sex-change operation in Thailand, returned to Malaysia with a female name, was arrested during a beauty pageant, came to Australia last year on a tourist visa and found work as a fruit-picker.

Lawyers said it was very rare for transsexuals to gain protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention as members of a persecuted social group.

Sometimes when we are demanding our rights here for marriage equality or to serve in the military or demand our rights to employment, housing and public accommodation we forget that others have it a lot worst, they are in fear of their live.

Suddenly I turned around and she was standin’ there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns
“Come in,” she said, “I’ll give you shelter from the storm”