Just Gone is a gripping collection of true stories, based on the fact that at least 70 countries around the world still have anti-homosexuality laws. In 12 of these, it is punishable by death.

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.

Available from Re:Books


Jo(anne) DeLuzio works as an audiologist and writes about 2SLGBTQ+ oppression in Canada, and globally.. She currently resides in Toronto with her wife and two youngest children. As a parent to six children from a previous marriage, she considers surviving their teenage years her most remarkable accomplishment. She published her debut novel, Surviving the Closet, with RE:BOOKS in 2023.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist based in Toronto with a focus on tourism, lifestyle, entertainment and community issues. He has written several travel articles and has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He’s willing to take on any assignments of interest, attend parties with free booze, listen to rants, and travel the world in search of the great unknown. He’s eager to discover the new, remember the past, and look into the future.