Arshid*, 28, left his native Iran, where he was forced to hide his homosexuality. He continues to do so in Bosnia’s Bira camp, where he has been stuck for nine months. The coronavirus pandemic has made it even more difficult to reach Europe, but he’s not giving up hope of reaching a country where he can finally "be himself".
Support structures for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender refugees often rely on in-person meetings. That’s one of the reasons why measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have hit queer refugees particularly hard. We spoke to LGBT+ refugee advocates in Germany about the situation, and where people can still get help.
In Greece, a list of 12 'safe countries' intended to facilitate the processing of asylum applications is causing concern among NGOs. According to refugee rights activists, the document eliminates country-specific nuances and endangers some asylum seekers, especially gay and transgender people.
The UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has launched a series of consultations to better protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees. Consultations will take place over the next few months in different parts of the world.
The Italian Supreme Court of Cassation has ruled in favor of a homosexual migrant from the Ivory Coast. He had been denied refugee status in Italy even though he said he faced serious threats from his family back home.
Diana Namusoke and Success Johnson fled violence and discrimination back home in Africa, only to be caught up in Germany's messy asylum system. Luisa Rollenhagen reports from Berlin.
John* was arrested and placed in custody this summer for homosexuality before eventually being released on bail. Today, threatened with death by his community, he lives in hiding and is thinking of leaving his country.
Many of the residents in Germany's largest LGBTQI home have fled homophobic violence and discrimination in the former Soviet Union. Why do some inflict violence upon each other, although they're sharing a common fate?
A migration official said the introverted nature of the 18-year-old refugee was at odds with homosexuals "being rather social." The young man feared for his safety in Afghanistan, where homosexuality is illegal.
Camara, Diawara, Yassin and Farid were all born in countries where homosexuality considered shameful, taboo and sometimes even a crime. Camara is from Mali, Diawara from Guinea and Yassin and Farid are from Morocco. When their secret was discovered, all four of them fled their home countries-- afraid of ending up in prison and terrified about what their friends, family and neighbors might do to them. Today, these four are all seeking asylum in France. InfoMigrants met them through Le Refuge, an organization that helps LGBT people who find themselves isolated. Le Refuge is providing these four men with a roof over their heads and psychological support while their asylum claims are being processed.
Camara, Diawara, Yassin and Farid were all born in countries where homosexuality is considered shameful, taboo and sometimes even a crime. Camara is from Mali, Diawara from Guinea and Yassin and Farid are from Morocco. When their secret was discovered, all four of them fled their home countries -- afraid of ending up in prison and terrified about what their friends, family and neighbors might do to them. Today, these four are all seeking asylum in France. InfoMigrants met them through Le Refuge, an organization that helps LGBT people who find themselves isolated. Le Refuge is providing these four men with a roof over their heads and psychological support while their asylum claims are being processed.
There are many gay and transgender people among Afghan refugees who have escaped to European countries, including Germany. One of those who came to Germany told InfoMigrants that he was constantly under threat in Afghanistan.