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Tasheka Lavann Left The Caribbean For Canada To Escape Homophobia, Save Her Own Life

“I don’t want to be added to the list of LGBT members who have been slaughtered."

“I don’t want to be added to the list of LGBT members who have been slaughtered, who have been killed.”

Canadians have the freedom to love who we want and the right to live without discrimination from those who think otherwise. But others are not as lucky.

Meet Tasheka Lavann, a journalist and former Carnival queen who fled her home country of Antigua and Barbuda with her partner because of the homophobia she experienced and the strict laws against same-sex relationships. After years of enduring discrimination, she and her partner decided to leave the life they had behind to come to Canada.

Since their arrival in Toronto, they have found the acceptance they always wanted. "I remember our first time walking on Church Street. Words cannot describe the feeling. Let's just say I found true freedom and happiness,” the LGBTQ activist recalls.

Tasheka now has a Youtube channel called Island Lez Talk, where she discusses LGBT issues as a proud woman from Antigua, but also as a new Canadian.

Watch the video to learn more about The Real Tasheka.

Text above by Abigail Esteireiro

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