Pauline is a lesbian from Uganda. She first came to the UK in 2003 when she was just 17. At that point she was still processing her sexuality.

Over the next few years, she gradually began to come to terms with seeing herself as a lesbian. This was difficult as her experiences in Uganda made this feel difficult to reconcile with her identity as an African and as a Christian. In Uganda LGBT people are persecuted and being out is against the law.

From 2004 Pauline gradually accepted that this is who she was – a lesbian but she was still afraid of coming out to her friends in the African community. Pauline even had a few girlfriends but didn’t tell many people about them because she was afraid of the response.

2015 was a big turning point for Pauline. Her friend invite her to come and see Out and Proud (an African LGBT group). Pauline was amazed to see people who were African – from her community – who were open about their sexuality. They encouraged Pauline to come out publicly. At this point Pauline also joined the congregation of St James’s Piccadilly after visiting the church with a friend from Out and Proud.

Ever since then, Pauline has been an active member of St James’s, and is now very involved with organising Out and Proud. She has been vulnerable and shared her story publicly at church events and in the LGBT group.

Pauline has been a good friend and has been actively involved in supporting other LGBT people. She even worked up courage to put in an Asylum claim despite being very scared of doing so.

I have no doubt whatsoever that Pauline is a lesbian. I met her last girlfriend, Mariam several times.

Please help Pauline raise the money for her legal fees! She has only been given a short amount of time to prepare for her appeal and has had to find a new lawyer as her first lawyer wasn’t qualified to take the appeal. I am very scared about the persecution she would face if forced to return to Uganda.

I am sharing this story as Pauline's friend.