Transgender couple seek humanitarian asylum in Iceland after 'homophobic attacks'
A transgender couple are seeking "humanitarian asylum" in Iceland after claiming Sydney's “homophobic street life” forced them to flee the country.
Stephanie McCarthy suffered a black eye and swollen lip after being beaten in an unprovoked attack at a Newtown hotel in Sydney's inner west, in 2015.
After the attack, Ms McCarthy and her partner Ashley Ihász launched a GoFundMe page to raise money to flee Australia, saying they were "in fear of their futures after ongoing homophobic violence."
"Please help two transgender women from Australia, who have been driven to claim humanitarian asylum in Iceland," the now inactive GoFundMe page read.
'We have now formally applied for asylum in Iceland and, with it, the chance to live free of violence, intimidation, the threat of death and various other forms of abuse'.
The couple also alleged NSW Police "continually harassed and threatened" them, according to the Daily Mail.
NSW Police told Yahoo7 it had "zero-tolerance for violence against any memeber of the LGBTIQ community and rejects any claim to the contrary."
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"The Force has been widely acknowledged for the extensive work it has done to foster these important relationships and improve understandings in respect to policing," a statement read.
Ms McCarthy and Ms Ihász said they left behind family, friends and their pets after leaving Australia.
The couple also shared a photo of a letter from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration confirming an interview.
"In the purpose of informing asylum applicants of procedures and for information verification and collection, we hereby notify that you are expected to attend a first interview,' the letter reads.
The couple are believed to now be living in the small Icelandic town Keflavík.
