A Congolese lesbian living in Manchester has reportedly been detained in her home country by her own MUM until she is ‘cured of her sexuality’.
Christina Fonthes, a freelance interpreter and translator, reported yesterday that her mother had stolen her passport and travel documents.
Stretford and Urmston MP Kate Green contacted the Foreign Office before reporting that Christina was receiving support at the British Embassy this morning.
I’ve contacted @foreignoffice & am told #ChrisFonthes is getting support from the British Embassy this morning
— Kate Green (@KateGreenSU) August 29, 2014
Christina’s tweet alerted her friends to her plight and they immediately rallied in a bid to bring her home to the UK.
.@JJ_Bola Pls tell @UKinDRC & @ukhomeoffice that Im NOT missing. My passport has been stolen BY MUM.and I need to return to the uk asap.
— ChristinaManch (@CongoMuse) August 28, 2014
She also sent a second message shortly after urging Brits to contact the British embassy in the country to help secure her release.
Contact details for uk embassy in Congo pls also call not just tweet thank you @JJ_Bola @WritersofColour pic.twitter.com/iZbZ7bsIuy
— ChristinaManch (@CongoMuse) August 28, 2014
Homosexuality is not illegal in the country, but other African states, most notably Uganda, have faced widespread condemnation from the global community in the past for anti-gay laws.
Christina, originally from Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa and raised London, is active on women’s rights issues in the country.
She volunteers at Lisapo – The Congolese Tales, an oral history project aiming to record and preserve the stories of Congolese people in Greater Manchester.
Christina is also a founding member of Rainbow Noir, a ‘safe space’ for LGBTQ people of colour in Greater Manchester.
