More immigrants cite sexual orientation for asylum

[Shana A]

More immigrants cite sexual orientation for asylum

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS (AP) – 16 hours ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvHHTjSkM_Qqe5Iij12DAPu4cuAAD9BJLQ283

"I had no choice," said Andre Azevedo, 39, a transgender man from Brazil who recently won asylum and now lives in New York. "Where I'm from, heterosexual men practice hate crimes against us like a sport, and the police do nothing to stop it."

Since 1994, sexual orientation has been grounds for asylum in the United States. That's when former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno ruled in a case that persecution based on sexual orientation could be potential grounds for asylum.