His story is heartbreaking, breathtaking, and empowering. Wajeeh Amir Lion is the first openly gay man from Saudi Arabia to obtain political asylum in the United States.
Once his parents confirmed he was gay, they took away all of Lion’s freedoms, and he was under direct threat of the Saudi government. He sought help from his alma mater, Kansas City University, where the head of LGBTQ services ushered him to safety and found him legal help.
Because homosexuality is illegal in his Saudi Arabia homeland, Lion was granted asylum in 2018. He has since been committed to international advocacy for human rights, anti-violence, and LGBTQ rights.
You can find Lion hosting regular Twitter Spaces where he champions discussions to bring people together. He is living proof that not all superheroes wear capes.