Narrator: Tu

Date: 07/11/19

Location: New York City, NY

Content Warning: Descriptions of homophobia

Summary: Tu, an immigrant from Vietnam, discusses her experiences with her Catholic faith while also facing discrimination for being LGBTQ+, which led to her resettlement in the United States. She explains how the Emma’s Torch refugee resettlement organization helped her adjust to American life, and how she and her partner have explored faith together while still remaining devoted to their Catholic community.

Topics: Family, Religion, Sexuality, Discrimination, Career, Immigration Process, Childhood

Outline

Section 1: 0:00-4:56

• Family, Religion - She grew up in Vietnam, where her family was very Catholic.

• Childhood - As a child, she would attend church daily in the morning. Her sister was a nun and she became a nun after graduating high school as well. Afterwards, she began living in the convent.

• Religion - Religion helped her through difficult situations and figuring out her next steps.

Section 2: 4:56-9:29

• Religion - It helped her to overcome challenges. She also trusted in the church.

• Immigration process (Refugee) - Made the decision to move to America

• Sexuality - It’s hard for her to accept some situations and to have faith now due to how she loves (being in a same-sex relationship), but it helps.

• Cultural adjustment - She no longer attends church daily and sometimes feels guilty, but she now “find[s] God in everyone” and sees church as “something inside [her]self”.

Section 3: 9:29-16:31

• Cultural adjustment, Religion, Discrimination - She has yet to find a good church or religious community to belong to and that accepts her but finds that community is very important to her.

• Sexuality - Her partner and her are still both Catholic

• Mental health - She is still looking for happiness within herself.

• Cultural adjustment - She now finds community at Emma’s torch which feels like home to her.

Section 5: 16:31- 22:02

• Immigration Process (Refugee)  - Her partner came back to America since she was Vietnamese-American.

• Religion - Faith was and still continues to be a big part of her. Even though she doesn’t go to church as often, she still practices her religion and sees it as her foundation and a source of encouragement.

• Cultural Adjustment, Refugee - Emma’s Torch has also been an open environment for all religions and refugees like her.

Section 6: 22:02 - 29:30

• Cultural Adjustment, Refugee - She learned about Emma’s Torch (a refugee organization) when she was accepted as a student when coming to the U.S. They provided her with services like learning English which she has had help with from libraries and other people too. Since coming here, she has become more open to other religions also.