What happens to queer activist and artist Alvaro Orozco will tell us a lot about how Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney and, by association, the federal government are going to handle power.
Will they be kinder and gentler, edging closer to the Bill Davis centre, or are we in pit bull territory?
Orozco was denied refugee status in 2007 after Immigration and Refugee Board judge Deborah Lamont ordered him back to Nicaragua, declaring that he “did not look gay enough.” Terrified of his father, who’d said he’d kill any gay son of his, Orozco remained in Canada undocumented, where he found true community. He was picked up on May 13 as he was getting off the subway and hauled into detention.
Though Nicaragua’s human rights record regarding gays has improved in the past few years, Orozco is now well known as a gay man in his country of birth and very vulnerable if he returns.
At demonstrations Friday, May 20, and Tuesday, May 24, hundreds of activists passionately expressed their desire for Orozco to be released and kept here until his “humanitarian and compassionate grounds” application can been heard.
In his capacity as minister, Kenney has the power to overturn decisions made by the Refugee Board and to keep Orozco in Canada. At Friday’s action, Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow said via Skype that she’s pressing Kenney to let Orozco stay.
Keep in mind that Kenney voted against gay marriage and “accidentally” left mention of gay rights out of the official citizenship handbook (since put back in). In the Orozco matter, the minister can thumb his nose at the queer community, indicating that with a Tory majority he’ll veer to the right – and be cruel.
Or he can signal that the Tories will seek the centre – and long-term control of government – and assure us that the term “compassionate Conservative” is not an oxymoron.
Write your MP, sign the petition at change.org/petitions/let-alvaro-stay-in-canada.
And see photos from a Let Alvaro Stay rally here.
susanc@nowtoronto.com
