TORONTO — When Zhya Aramiy was living in Turkey and Iraq, he had to keep his Pride flags hidden away.

Aramiy, who identifies as gay, fled from Iraq at the age of 27 after facing threats, physical violence and ostracization from his family because of his sexuality.

“I was at the point where I said, ‘I can’t stand it anymore,”‘ said Aramiy. “Either I have to lose my life here, just stay living this way, or I have to save my life … go somewhere safe.”