Hey everyone,

I'm Sarah, a 21 years old gay girl and I live in Saudi Arabia! "horrible, I know"
I grew up having so many dreams, one of them is having a family but I knew that I'll never get that because I'm gay and I live in Saudi Arabia!  you can't be gay in Saudi.

When I was 16 I got caught in high school by a counselor kissing a girl, a harmless kiss. she outed me to my family, my friends, and the entire school. she told everyone that I'm sick, I need help! and she'll do the same to any sick person like me so everyone can hate that "sick person"! it was so humiliating. and I got suspended for a week. the sad thing is my family and my friends thought I was sick too.

For the rest of my high school life, I was bullied in real life and on social media (verbally and physically). it devastated me and made me so depressed! I tried once to commit suicide, but I failed and I'm so grateful for that. eventually, I had to forget the idea of me being gay to live my life in peace.

Until a few months earlier, I was 21 in my third year of college, I had a job too and my family gave me a monthly pocket money. even I overcame my depression and I was happier and healthier than ever.

I felt like I need to come out to my family because I thought my life is much easier now and the people are fighting for Lgbtq+ rights all around the world! and there's hope for me!

But, it didn't go like I expected it! my family dropped me out of college, stopped giving me money and didn't allow me to keep my job!
They even wanted to send me to a religious school, because "being gay is a huge sin and I will go to hell for that".

And they said if I ever wanted to be "gay" I have to leave the country because I was bringing so much shame to the family name, or I could return to the right path "being straight" and they'll pay for my college, allow me to keep my job and give me my pocket money.

I have reached the point where I've fully accepted myself, I'm proud to be who I am. but that isn't enough! I lost a lot of my relatives& friends, and one wrong call could put me in jail, pay a fine up to $18K or just face the Death Penalty!

So in the past month, I've made a decision. I'm gonna start a new life in Ontario, Canada! seek ASYLUM there, and I just don't want to spend another day pretending& being afraid to be myself!

This huge change won't be easy or cheap. and I've tried to save money until I had to spend it since I lost my job.

So I'm asking for your help! to fund things that would help me to start a new life and settle in. like (my flight, asylum lawyer, first-month rent, food, etc...) I'll be looking for a job immediately with the help of a supportive friend I made online.

I would never be asking people to help me like this, but I do really need it since "my family and friends" won't help me at all.

So would you please be part of my new journey in life and help me to make it happen?

If you can't donate, you could share this! it's an amazing way to help. I do need all the help I can get.

I appreciate all the support and thank you for taking the time to read this.

- Sarah Ali.