Client Stories

Choi/Kameny at HOBS dinner

Our all-volunteer organization works to provide micro-assistance to those who have suffered from discrimination.Here is a small representative sample of the clients HOBS has helped:

Frank Kameny
Elderly Gay Rights Pioneer in need of economic assistance

The late Dr. Franklin Kameny, like so many who lost jobs because of discrimination, received only the bare minimum of social security. He received no other pension. While the Federal Government acknowledged their mistake, like so many, no monies came with that apology.

HOBS worked with Dr. Kameny for over a year, insuring that his basic life needs were met. To honor our greatest living gay rights activist, HOBS provided Frank with taxi vouchers and worked to ensure that his utilities were paid (phone, electric, water). We also worked with many other fine organizations in coordinating his needs and were in constant communication with DC Government Officials, attempting to make sure city services were available to Dr. Kameny. We also gathered donations in 2010 to pay Frank's real estate taxes, of $2,000+.


LN (alias)
Discrimination Case, CAMEROON
Referring Agency: Tahiri Justice Center (Falls Church, VA)

LN discovered that she was a lesbian at the age of 20, when she fell in love with a teammate on her handball team (MC). A year later, when her father found a love letter from MC, he beat LN and threatened to kill them both. Almost immediately thereafter, he forced LN into an arranged marriage with a man that she did not know. The marriage was extremely abusive; her husband raped her regularly, kept her locked in a room, and beat her. During this time, LN managed to remain in touch with MC, and MC came to visit while LN's husband was on a business trip. He returned home early, caught LN and MC together, and called the neighbors and police to come after them. LN's family, who was now certain of her sexual orientation, disowned her. LN moved to another city to get away from her husband and discovered she was pregnant. After she gave birth to her child, her father threatened to kill himself if she did not return to her husband. Reluctantly, she returned, and the abuse continued for several more years. During her second pregnancy, her husband beat her so badly that he broke her front teeth and she ended up in the hospital. The broken teeth had to be extracted, requiring her to wear dentures.

LN did not return to her husband again, and he set out to destroy her life. He bribed Cameroonian police to harm and kill her. On four occasions, LN was arrested and detained. During these detentions, she was raped, forced to perform oral sex on police officers, beaten, and tortured. The officers repeatedly reminded her that being homosexual is a crime in Cameroon. During the fourth arrest, while an officer was raping her, her dentures fell out. The officer stepped on them and broke them. With the help of a good Samaritan, LN was able to obtain a tourist visa to the U.S. and escape in January 2010. She was forced to leave behind MC, who remained a dedicated partner to her for almost 20 years, as well as her children, in order to save her own life. Until HOBs intervened, LN wore the broken dentures, which were a constant reminder of all of the pain and abuse she endured.

HOBS donors provided the funds to replace her upper dentures.


CG (alias)
Asylum Case, CAMEROON
Referring Agency: United Way

CG is a scholar seeking asylum in the US in response to his gay rights activism. Prior to his asylum claim, CG was invited by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to speak at a prestigious academic conference. Thanks in part to his presentation, CG was offered a place in the University's PhD program but he was unable to pay the application fees (TOEFL, French to English transcript translation, and college course evaluation). His case manager appealed to a number of community services but his need did not qualify for a financial assistance program.

HOBS donors paid the cost of these fees.

Helping our Brothers and Sisters
Office Address
1318 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009

Mailing Address
Post Office Box 53477
Washington, DC 20009
Tel. 202-986-6317