Matias Alvial's Colleagues at VOICES4
Matias Alvial's Contact Details
VOICES4
Matias Alvial's Company Details
Voices 4 Chechnya is a group of New Yorkers who are passionate about using their privilege as out Americans to bring about change around the world. Inspired by contemporary LGBTQ+ advocacy groups like Act Up! and Gays Against Guns, we are committed to non-violent, direct action activism. By way of peaceful methods such as sit-ins, demonstrations, and marches, we stand together to achieve a common goal: Freedom and dignity for all LGBTQ+ people.Every day queer Chechens are abducted, tortured and killed. Over 20 Chechens have escaped and are living in safe houses in mainland Russia, with no way out. Head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov has denied the existence gay people in Chechnya, referred to them as subhuman and approved of familial honor killings.Our main demand is issuing humanitarian parole visas for Chechen LGBTQ+ people from the U.S. Government. Humanitarian parole visas are essential because, currently, tourist visas are no longer an option. These individuals are hiding from their relatives, the Chechen and Russian governments, making applying for tourist visas virtually impossible. It is crucial to recognize these people as victims of genocide, and the humanitarian catastrophe currently taking place in Chechnya.There have been several people who have managed to escape from Chechnya to St. Petersburg and Moscow. But the actual number of LGBTQ+ Chechens who remain in captivity is unknown, and kept in secret due to safety concerns. For now, the LGBTQ+ activists in Russia have organized secret shelters for them, providing survivors with medical care, food, clothing, and housing. Despite them being LGBTQ+, the Chechens may come from a Muslim background, posing a potential issue in America, due to the rhetoric of the Trump Administration.V4C is partnering with RUSA LGBT, an emotional, financial, and logistical support group for these refugees and asylees. V4C encourages that marchers be sponsored with all the proceeds going directly to RUSA LGBT.