Luc –
Imagine taking a selfie with the one you love, when suddenly you’re grabbed by police, pushed into a vehicle, and driven away. That’s what happened to Lahcen and Mohsine when they were sightseeing in Morocco.
Like any couple, they wanted to take a picture together. But that tiny show of affection landed them both in jail. The crime? Police said they were violating "public modesty" laws by standing too close together. If they were a straight couple, it wouldn’t have been a crime.
It’s illegal to be gay in Morocco – and 74 other countries around the world. Here at All Out, we won’t let the political bigots who keep those laws in place have the last say. Standing up with people like Lahcen and Mohsine for their love and dignity is our biggest priority.
It’s not an easy fight. But when thousands of people around the world make a small contribution each month, we can fight homophobic lawmakers with whatever it takes until we win.
Equality Champions are the foundation of all that we do – a global community powering victories of love across the planet!
Without them, we wouldn’t be able to jump into action on the drop of a dime. We wouldn’t be able to commit to long-term partnerships with activist groups working on the ground. We wouldn’t be able to plan ongoing campaigns that change hearts and minds.
When a young Tunisian student was arrested and tortured for a text message he sent “proving” he was gay, All Out members jumped into action. Over 83,000 members demanded that he be set free – and it worked! Marwan was let out of jail and is safe at home.
But our work is hardly done.
Just this month, police arrested two more men in Morocco for kissing in public. They face up to three years in prison. Who knows how many more people will be thrown in jail this year for similar “crimes.”
We won’t stop until their love is legal. But proving the bigots and bullies wrong all comes at a cost.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt, Sarah, Enrique, Leandro, Kate, and the rest of the All Out team.
