The bridge I crossed is now aflame.
- Randy Singh
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
I never imagined that the fight to simply stay alive would lead me to a place where the very path I crossed is now aflame.
In 2013, I didn't come to Canada looking for a career move or a change of scenery. I came to stay alive. In Guyana, visibility was a target. To survive, I had to leave behind the only world I knew—my friends, my family, and my identity. There is a specific, hollow kind of grief in realizing that the place you call "home" is the very place that wants to destroy you.
For years, I navigated a system that wasn't built for me. I was a man looking for sanctuary, but often finding only bureaucracy.
In 2022, I finally found a home. I walked through the doors of UPlift Black as a volunteer looking for a connection, and I found a sanctuary. Today, I am the person standing at that door, welcoming newcomers
who arrive in Barrie with nothing but hope.
But today, the bridge I crossed is being burned behind us.
The Crisis: Bill C-12
Bill C-12 is now law. It is a direct attack on the safety of our LGBTQI+ neighbors. It has introduced a "one-year bar," stating that if you do not file your refugee claim within 12 months of arriving, you could be found ineligible for protection.
I know from my own bones: Safety does not follow a calendar. It takes time to trust. It takes time to heal. When you have spent your entire life hiding who you are to stay alive, it takes more than a year to feel safe enough to tell a government official the truth. Bill C-12 steals that time from the most vulnerable among us.
ACTION REQUIRED: Legal Emergency
This is not just my story. It is a call to action, urgent and political. If you are seeking asylum, or know someone who is, please pay attention.
Check your inbox and junk folder daily for emails mentioning "Redetermination," "Section 101(b.1)," or codes like A104.
The 21-Day Rule: You have exactly 21 days to respond before your claim is cancelled and you face removal.
Don't Wait: Contact a lawyer immediately or reach out to me at randy@upliftblack.org. We are ready to help you climb these barriers.
How You Can Help
"You Belong Here" is not just a slogan; it is a promise we must keep. We need the community of Simcoe County to stand with us.
Engage Politically: Click here to find your MP. Email them and demand exemptions for LGBTQI+ claimants from the one-year bar.
Spread the Word: Share this message. Someone’s life may depend on knowing about the 21-day deadline.
Fuel the Sanctuary: The work we do at UPlift Black provides the literal lifeline for those navigating these flames. We cannot build new paths without you. Please consider making a donation today to keep our doors open and our support systems active: https://www.upliftblack.org/donations
Even as the bridge burns, I am here. I came to stay alive, and I will not be defeated by the flames. Let’s work together to ensure that the door stays open for the next leader, the next activist, and the next human being wondering if their life matters.
Because at UPlift Black, we don't just say it—we live it: You Belong Here.
In solidarity,
Randy Singh
Director, You Belong Here Newcomer Settlement Program
UPlift Black
[Template for your MP Email]
Subject: URGENT: Protect 2SLGBTQI+ Refugees from Bill C-12 One-Year Bar
Dear Member of Parliament,
I am a constituent in your riding writing to express my deep concern regarding Bill C-12. The "one-year bar" (Section 101(b.1)) ignores the reality of trauma and the time required for LGBTQI+ refugees to safely disclose their identities. Furthermore, the 21-day response window for "Redetermination" is a life-threatening barrier. I am calling on you to advocate for legislative exemptions for LGBTQI+ claimants. Safety must not have an expiry date.
Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Postal Code]
Photo credit: Bantu Media (Enchante Network, Together for Change Conference) Oct 2025
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