Sudburians rally for gay man facing deportation

Several people rallied outside Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe's downtown constituency office Tuesday, calling for her and the Immigration minister to stop the deportation of a community member.

Tarun Godara is facing deportation to India. He came to Canada to study arts at Cambrian College in 2017, as an international student.

After his graduation work permit expired in 2022, he got caught in a bureaucratic snarl when he applied for an extension, and received bad advice.

Now, he said he is threatened with deportation to his home country, where he won't feel safe as an openly queer man.

"I would have to be in hiding again, and I do not wish to go back to the same scared person that I was," Godara said.

India has recently decriminalized same-sex unions, but the country remains socially conservative. As Godara told CBC News in March, the broader culture can push LGBT people into hiding their identity.

India's safety disputed

Godara will attend a deportation hearing in southern Ontario on April 16. He has applied to deferthe deportation.

When an immigration officer reviewed his file previously, they ruled that Godara wouldn't face significant risks in India based on the recent Indian law changes.

Cory Gaudette, the creator of Sudbury drag house Hauz Noir, was at the rally Tuesday. He said he would not consider traveling to India, even as a tourist, because of its LGBT rights record.

"For queer people to stay alive and healthy and safe, they need that support. So I think it's very important that he stays here," said Gaudette.

Godara has applied for permanent residency on compassionate grounds, a process that could take two years. He could still be deported during that time.

"It's not how it should be. I'm not a criminal. I have not committed any crimes. I've only lived my life," Godara said. "I would be on the street if it was not for the people that are helping me out right now."

He said his LGBT friends back in India tell him they do not feel safe expressing their gender identities.

Protestors call for change

Pride Sudbury activism lead Matthew Morin said he was pleased with the diverse crowd that attended the rally. He said Canada is facing many challenges that may intersect with immigration, but deporting settled people was not the right solution.

"We do need to change certain aspects to address a housing crisis and job security, but we need to make room for people to come and live their lives and be comfortable and be who they are," Morin said.

"I'm willing to come out daily if I need to."

Charles Tossell was among the people who praised Godara's presence in the Sudbury community, saying he is an active volunteer and artist.

"It'll be a danger if he goes back," Tossell said. "I don't understand their logic. I want to send a message to (Immigration Minister) Marc Miller that I'm urging him to reconsider keeping him here in Sudbury."