We Stand with LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers

Allegations of malpractice highlighted in recent BBC reporting cannot and must not be weaponised to cast doubt on LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, who overwhelmingly seek protection on the basis of real and well-founded fears of persecution.

We, like others across the sector, condemn the unscrupulous conduct of those who exploit a vulnerable and desperate section of society. This behaviour not only harms those in need, but is also wholly at odds with the values and principles that underpin the wider asylum and human rights sector.

The article arguably attempts to paint a more general picture of an asylum system ripe for misuse by both representative and claimant. The reality is that LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are victims of a culture of disbelief that is deeply entrenched in the Home Office.

Claims based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity account for only around 2% of the total, yet these individuals are routinely forced to reveal personal, intimate details of their lives or face potential refusal.

For instance, same gender couples attempting to “evidence’’ their relationship face a significantly higher burden of proof than that of a heterosexual couple.

We must not divert attention from the systemic barriers and culture of disbelief that LGBTQ+ people face within the asylum system. LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are not a loophole to be closed, but a group entitled to safety, dignity and justice—and that principle must not be compromised.