LGBT Asylum Information

LGBT asylum - useful information and support organisations

The UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group website has detailed information about the UK asylum system and procedure. They also run monthly asylum legal meetings in London where volunteer solicitors give general advice about the asylum process and where you can meet other LGBT asylum seekers.  Alternatively, you can call their helpline on 020 7922 7811 – Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.

The Right To Remain ToolKit is a guide to the UK immigration and asylum system. It gives an overview of the legal system and procedures, with detailed information on rights and options at key stages, and actions you can take in support of your claim, or to help someone else.

Link to government guidance explaining how asylum interviews for claims made on the basis of sexual identity are to be conducted:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sexual-identity-issues-in-the-asylum-claim

Sexually explicit material cannot be accepted even if voluntarily submitted. Please see Government Asylum policy instructions dated March 2015 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410098/Asylum_Interviews_AI.pdf

Barrister S Chelvan is an expert in asylum claims based on sexual or gender identity. He developed the Difference, Stigma, Shame, Harm (DSSH) model as a way of exploring and presenting asylum claims on the basis of sexual or gender identity. The model has been endorsed by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in their International Protection Guidelines.  Check out the following link for a PDF of a presentation by S Chelvan on the DSSH model https://www.no5.com/cms/documents/DSSH%20Model%20and%20LGBTI%20Asylum%20Claims.pdf

The Peter Tatchell Foundation website has guidance on the asylum process plus suggested contacts for country statements http://www.petertatchell.net/asylum/asylumadvice.htm

Human Dignity Trust report. It is illegal to be lesbian in almost a quarter of the countries in the world. Breaking the Silence: Criminalisation of Lesbians and Bisexual Women and its Impacts, a 2016 report by The Human Dignity Trust highlights the issues lesbians and bisexual women face rights due to the combination of their gender and sexuality.  

Organisations offering assistance or guidance to LGBT asylum seekers in the UK:

National

UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group http://uklgig.org.uk/

Website has information the UK asylum system and procedure. They also run monthly asylum legal meetings in London where volunteer solicitors give general advice about the asylum process and where you can meet other LGBT asylum seekers as well as speak to our members of staff in person.  Alternatively, you can call their helpline on 020 7922 7811 – Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.

African Rainbow Family (ARF) https://africanrainbowfamily.org/ is a non-for-profit organisation that support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender intersexual and queer (LGBTIQ) people of African heritage. It was established in the wake of the toxic and draconian anti-gay laws, persecutions and environment which seek to criminalise LGBTIQs for the preference of whom they choose to love. ARF provides:

·         Support LGBTIQ Refugees and People Seeking Asylum

·         Campaigning For Global LGBTIQ Equality

·         Stand Against Hate Crimes

·       Support communities who face constant harassment, hate crimes and discrimination heaped on them by an ignorant society because of their sexuality or sexual preferences as well as transphobia

Persian LGBT Advisory Services (Birmingham but offer support UK wide)
http://www.persianlgbt.org.uk/  https://www.facebook.com/PLGBTA

Persian LGBT Advisory Services is an Asylum and Refugee support group organisation which provides support and assistance to Persian speakers such as Afghan,Tajikistan and Iranian Asylum seekers here in the UK.

Manchester

First Wednesday

http://firstwednesday.lgbt/what-we-can-can-t-do

Meetings of the First Wednesday group take place at the LGBT Foundation from 3.30pm to 5.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Offer friendship, support and encouragement, and guidance on where you can receive further support.

Leeds

No Going Back http://nogoingback.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Going-Back/265474863563532?fref=nf aims to ensure liberty, equality and justice for LGBT asylum seekers in the UK. We are here to provide legal representation to LGBT asylum seekers in the UK, who have fled their country because of their sexual orientation.

Reach Out http://www.reachoutleeds.org/

ReachOUT meets every first and third Tuesday of the month in central Leeds. The purpose of the group is to create a safe space for LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers to come and make friends, develop a sense of community and boost confidence by learning new skills through capacity building activities.

Sheffield

Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield (LASS)  https://www.facebook.com/LASSheffield/  Supporting and empowering LBTQ+ and non binary asylum seekers and refugees in Sheffield and across South Yorkshire. Meets first Thursday of the month from 6 – 8pm at Together Women Projects.

Newcastle

Rainbow Home – LGBT Asylum Seekers Group
http://www.mesmacnortheast.com/2013/10/rainbow-home-a-new-lgbt-asylum-seekers-group/

Rainbow Home is an LGBT Asylum Seekers Group run jointly by MESMAC North East and Northern Lights (Metropolitan Community Church http://www.northernlightsmcc.org.uk/ ). The group is a lunchtime social and support group for lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who are seeking asylum in the UK or who have not yet settled here. The group runs the 3rd Friday of the month. The group offers a safe space, integration, motivation, friendship, belonging, confidence, inspiration, a place to feel at home, a space for family and free vegetarian food.

Midlands

Nottingham lesbian Immigration Support Group

http://www.nottinghamwomenscentre.com/lesbian-immigration-support-group/

Meet monthly at Nottingham Women’s Centre

Birmingham LGBT centre

Can support asylum seekers and refugees to access the services and activities at the LGBT Centre, including emotional support. You can also arrange an appointment to see a fully trained and experienced advisor on LGBT asylum and immigration.  hold an advice ‘surgery’ once a month, on the third Wednesday, with an advisor from UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG). There is also an asylum social group run by Journey Church which meets at the Centre on the third Friday of the month, from 1pm to 4pm. You can just turn up to this.

Journey MCC Asylum Social Group

http://blgbt.org/asylum-seekers/ Journey MCC Asylum Social Group is an inclusive social & support group for LGBT asylum seekers, providing a safe, welcoming space in the heart of Birmingham

London

Out and Proud Diamond Group – Africa LGBThttp://www.opdg.org/

Members represent a wide cross-section of African countries including Gabon, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi , Uganda and Jamaica. Working to promote equality for LGBTI persons in Africa and other countries where LGBTI persons are persecuted

Rainbows Across Borders - Croydon

http://www.rainbowsacrossborders.org.uk/

Rainbows Across Borders is a voluntary self-help group for lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender (LGBT) asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution of oppressive homophobic/transphobic regimes. The group is based in Croydon.

Scotland

Scottish Refugee Council has information and advice for LGBT asylum seekers on its website at the following link:

http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/get_help/i_am_lgbti_and_want_to_claim_asylum

Wales

http://www.unityproject.org.uk/no-going-back/

We are here to provide support and legal representation to people who are seeking asylum in the UK because they fear persecution in their own country due to their sexual orientation. We offer them free legal advice for their asylum claims. We also commission experts to produce reports to help individual cases and to highlight problems in particular countries.

Website links: 

• The International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission Africa branch is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. website: http://iglhrc.org/region/africa 
• Rainbow International exists to empower LGBT rights activists working in countries where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are criminalised and face persecution. https://rainbow-international-fund.org/ 
• The Kaleidoscope Trust works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people internationally.  We believe that the rights of all people should be respected equally, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.   https://kaleidoscopetrust.com/
• OutRight seeks to advance human rights and opportunities for LGBTIQ people around the world. As an international LGBTIQ organization with a long history of productive and trusting relationships with grassroots LGBTIQ communities worldwide, we serve as a bridge between local communities and high-impact external levers of power  https://www.outrightinternational.org/how-we-work

• LGBT Asylum News
• Manchester Pride
• LGBT Youth North West
• The Lesbian and Gay Foundation
• The Pankhurst Centre Manchester
• Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST)
• Freedom from Torture
• Refugee Action Greater Manchester
• Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Women's Services at Trafford Rape Crisis Centre
• Movement for Justice
• Safra Project by and for Muslim LBT women
• Imaan LGBTQI Muslim Support Group (London)
• Women for Refugee Women
• Revive (Manchester)
• Article on lesbian asylum seekers in 'Women's Asylum News'
• Rights of Women
• 'Seeking Refuge?: a Handbook for Asylum-Seeking Women' - Rights of Women Publication
• 'Seeking Refuge' updates to law July 2012

Other links:

Lesbian Women In The Asylum System BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour 3 Feb 2014.

You can listen here - discussion starts 20 minutes into programme.

Programme details:

January 2014 a major new report was published by the charity Women for Refugee Women on the experience of female asylum seekers detained in Britain. Almost 20 per cent of those interviewed said they had fled persecution on grounds of sexual orientation. The research suggests lesbian women face a number of obstacles when claiming asylum in the UK - largely around “proving” their sexuality within a systematic “culture of disbelief”. We hear from Alice (not her real name), a 26 year old lesbian from Cameroon, who was detained in Yarl's Wood last year. To discuss the issues raised, Jane is joined by Natasha Walter, co-founder of Women for Refugee Women, and Tim Barnden, a lawyer specialising in asylum claims relating to sexual orientation and Chair of the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group.

Seeking Asylum in the UK: lesbian perspectives - Research by Claire Bennett & Felicity Thomas

The Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration's LGBTI Refugee Project Portal contains projects and approaches that enhance the protection of LGBTI forced migrants in the areas of refugee status determination, policy development and research, practical protection measures, durable solutions, and staff sensitization and development. The projects in this portal are drawn from many countries, and bring forward ideas and practices relevant to stakeholders across sectors and borders.