In a cramped apartment in Tehran, the curtains are always drawn. The room is barely large enough for a handful of plastic chairs and a small whiteboard. Yet here, in secret, a group of young LGBTQ Iranians meet twice a week to learn English and basic digital skills. For them, education isn’t just about knowledge — it’s about survival. It is the difference between being trapped in danger and having a chance to escape it.
The Crisis
In many Muslim-majority countries, LGBTQ individuals face laws that criminalize their very existence. In Iran, consensual same-sex relationships can result in the death penalty. In Saudi Arabia and Yemen, “morality” laws are used to justify imprisonment, flogging, or worse. In Nigeria’s northern states, Sharia law imposes harsh punishments on those suspected of being LGBTQ.
These laws force people into hiding. Education becomes a luxury few can access safely. According to Human Rights Watch, many LGBTQ refugees from Muslim-majority countries have experienced interrupted schooling, expulsion from universities, or blacklisting from job opportunities because of their identity. Without access to learning, they are cut off from pathways to safety, employment, and dignity.
What SanctuaryNow.gay Does
Our Education Program is designed for survival. We run discreet, mobile classrooms in safe houses. We partner with trusted local allies to deliver online lessons where physical spaces are too dangerous. We teach languages, digital literacy, vocational skills, and even mental health awareness — all tailored to the realities of living under hostile laws.
- Iran: English lessons conducted via encrypted video calls, enabling students to apply for asylum programs abroad.
- Uganda: Covert literacy classes for LGBTQ youth expelled from school after anti-gay raids.
- Pakistan: Vocational training in sewing and IT for trans women denied formal employment.
Impact Stories
Sami’s Story (Composite): After being outed in Yemen, Sami was beaten by relatives and banned from attending university. Through SanctuaryNow.gay’s online classes, he learned graphic design, built a freelance portfolio, and now earns enough to support himself while seeking asylum.
Aisha’s Story (Composite): A trans woman from northern Nigeria, Aisha fled to a neighboring country with nothing but a backpack. She joined our vocational program, learned tailoring, and now runs a discreet sewing service that funds her safe housing.
How Donations Are Used
We believe in transparency. For every $100 donated to our Education Program:
- $40 provides secure internet access and learning devices for students in hiding.
- $30 funds safe-space rent and emergency relocation for teachers or students in danger.
- $20 covers learning materials, software licenses, and secure communications tools.
- $10 supports ongoing program monitoring and accountability.
In 2024 alone, we provided over 1,200 hours of safe instruction to LGBTQ individuals in 7 countries — all without exposing their identities or locations.
Why Your Help Matters Now
The crackdown on LGBTQ rights is intensifying. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has made education for women and LGBTQ people nearly impossible. In Egypt, online entrapment operations are on the rise, making even virtual learning dangerous without proper security measures. Every day, our teams receive urgent requests from people whose lives could be saved — and futures transformed — through education.
Call to Action
Education is more than learning — it is liberation. With your help, we can reach those still in hiding, give them the tools to survive, and open doors to safety.
Even if you can’t give today, you can help by sharing this cause on social media, joining our volunteer network, or advocating for LGBTQ refugee rights in your community.
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