Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes, I just wanted to add too that we're talking about how we identify them, but we also have to think about the fact that there's a lot of self-identifying. A lot of these people are coming forward, and in that coming forward there's almost proof in their credibility because they're putting their lives at risk by coming forward, finding and seeking out these underground agencies, and saying, “Hey, I'm LGBT.”

Citizenship and Immigration committee  If, let's say, there was an IRB member or an adjudicator who was of the LGBT community, I think there would be an easier way of knowing whether or not that person is or is not....

Citizenship and Immigration committee  When we're talking about the sponsorship that Chris just referred to, I feel as if we, as members of the LGBT community, have kind of a way of communicating, understanding, or empathizing with experiences of other LGBT members. So it's almost like—I don't know exactly how to express it—we can identify with them in a way.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It's a tough question to answer. If I just listen to the voices of the folks that I interviewed, none of them said they didn't want to have to prove their membership in the community. Each actually supported that requirement. It's just sometimes the way that it was approached was perhaps overly personal, like asking about quite specific sexual situations.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  All these folks that I interviewed for this project were inland refugee claimants, so that's on the Canadian side, the IRB.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As a masters graduate student of social work, whose research focused on the experiences of gay-identified convention refugees, I have obtained an understanding of various challenges claimants face. I would make the following recommendations, based on my research and the narratives of the five participants.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, honourable members and guests, it is a pleasure for us to be here today on behalf of the Foundation of Hope. My name is Chad Walters. I am a board director with the foundation, and I'm here with my colleague, Paul Tolnai. We are grateful for this opportunity to share with you today our experiences and to contribute to your study on this matter.