"Cuban refugees escape persecution for being gay"

At a press conference at the Greater L.A. Press Club, Cuban panelists and local activist leaders discuss the persecution of gay people in Cuba and what is being done to help Cuban refugees that have fled their country. Jorge Lara, a refugee who left Cuba and sought asylum at the Peruvian Embassy, describes what it's like to be gay in Cuba, including systemic oppression and constant fear of being arrested by police and jailed without cause. Troy Perry, activist and founder of the Metropolitan Community Church in Los Angeles, discusses how community churches and gay organizations are in the process of resettling 500 refugees and also need sponsors for women refugees. Perry further elaborates on how the refugees are in limbo until Congress makes decisions on their plight, and that the refugees and their allies are prepared to fight in the courts if necessary. Several shots lack sound.

Note: The KTLA newsfilm collection at UCLA consists of cut and unedited stories, outtakes and fill footage, originally shot on 16mm reversal film stock with magnetic soundtrack. Some footage, particularly material not used for broadcast, may be without sound.

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