At least seventy countries around the world still have anti-homosexuality laws. In twelve of these, it is punishable by death.

In this gripping collection of true stories, Jo DeLuzio speaks with nine survivors who sought refuge in Canada, forced to escape assault, torture, and even death in their home countries due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Through their eyes, we begin to understand what it means to have your identity make it impossible to safely exist. DeLuzio’s captivating exploration of international atrocities presents a brutally honest account of the hate crimes happening around the world. In DeLuzio’s words, “It was extremely difficult not to cry. I had and still have no way to process what they were telling me.” These atrocities are often swept under the rug, and DeLuzio’s collection of interviews are both a call to action and a reminder that the fight for equality is far from over. A must-read for anyone who has a heart.

“My story is other gays story. I speak now for those who cannot. Some dead, some hiding...Maybe the world does not know. They cannot care if they do not know. I tell you now, it happens, and true. Tell my story. Please. Maybe someone can care.”

— Mo, a refugee interviewed in Just Gone

Jo(anne) DeLuzio was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. She attended Western University in London, Ontario where she graduated with her Master of Clinical Science, with a speciality in audiology. Jo has practised audiology in a variety of facilities around the Greater Toronto Area for the last 40 years. She also holds a PhD in Speech-language Pathology from the University of Toronto. Currently, Jo teaches in the graduate program of Speech-language Pathology at the U of T.

Outside of the audiology world, Jo writes about the oppression of people who are LGBTQ+ in Canada and globally. In her spare time, Jo enjoys bowling with her wife in a gay league. She is a terrible bowler but finds validation and acceptance in gay spaces. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario with her wife and her two youngest children, who are currently learning about the process of adulting. Jo has had the privilege of parenting six children, and she considers surviving all those teenage years as one of her most remarkable accomplishments.

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