Gay Mexican man gets asylum in U.S.

[Heidi]

:thumbsup:

Bid was denied on grounds he could avoid persecution by hiding orientation
Updated: 10:01 p.m. ET Jan. 30, 2007
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles immigration judge who previously denied a gay man's 2004 asylum bid on the grounds that the man simply could conceal his sexual orientation if he returned to his native Mexico reversed the decision Tuesday.

In allowing Jorge Sota Vega to remain in the United States, Judge John D. Taylor said that gays should not be required to dress or act a certain way to avoid persecution and that Vega's lawyers proved he would be at risk if he were deported to Mexico.

Vega, 38, who lived in Tuxpan and Guadalajara before he fled to the United States, said he was beaten by police and told by authorities in Mexico he would be killed.

<<snip>>

Davidson said Taylor's new ruling "showed a change in attitude and an understanding that the same standard should apply for gay people who are seeking asylum."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16895639/

[superconnected]

1. I had no idea people aren't allowed to be gay in mexico.

Anybody else ever hear of this before?

[seriousstan]

2. l

[keopeli]

3. Oh, you're allowed to be gay. The question is will he be persecuted?

and is persecution of homosexuals tolerable?

It says something that this Judge changed his position. A thoughtful and wise person will allow himself/herself to be wrong.

[Heidi]

6. Exactly.

:thumbsup:

[Divine Discontent]

4. hi!

I cannot state this enough to folks, if you are unsure of something, wikipedia is a great source. It took me 15 seconds to find this on there.

take care!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_rights_in_Mexico



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

[superconnected]

5. Thanks, I didn't even think of looking on wikipedia!

[Heidi]

9. Thank you!

:thumbsup:

[murray hill farm]

10. I lived in Mexico for 5 years.

and where I lived gay was just fine....and open and public, etc. I never saw any discrimination at all in the time that I lived in Mexico. Many transvestites on the island where I lived..totally accepted socially ..but still....glad to hear that this particular guy found a way to stay in the usa if that is what he wanted.

[area51]

7. ironic.

It's just ironic that he's being granted asylum in a country which doesn't give gay people equal rights with straights. :shrug:

[Heidi]

8. Yep.

I don't object to the ruling at all, but I'm not sure how much safer he'll be in the US, either. :shrug:

[3waygeek]

11. Especially since a Mexican state

just passed a civil union law.