The journey to safety: the struggles of LGBT+ asylum seekers and refugees 

Despite the many stories of progress across the world, being LGBT+ is still extremely dangerous in far too many places. In around 60 countries, same-sex relationships are criminalised, and in some, simply being LGBT+ can result in imprisonment or even the death penalty.  

Many of these laws have roots in British colonial history. Over half of the countries that criminalise LGBT+ people today can trace their laws back to Britain - whether as a former colony, a ‘protectorate’, or through another historical relationship. While the UK has come a long way since this dark period in promoting LGBT+ rights, the legacy of its laws still influences too many countries to this day.  

Another major source of criminalisation comes from the strict interpretation of Islamic law, with some of the harshest penalties found in Muslim-majority countries. Together, these laws create a hostile environment where countless LGBT+ people are forced to hide who they are, live in fear, or risk their lives simply for existing.  

For many, fleeing their home country is the only option for survival.  

Many of those who flee choose the UK, a country widely seen as a global leader in LGBT+ rights, as their place of refuge. However, although in many ways the UK is a safe haven for LGBT+ people, its asylum system provides a much less rosy picture.  

For many seeking refuge, arriving in the UK is just the beginning. Instead of finding immediate safety, LGBT+ asylum seekers are often met with new barriers, challenges and even more trauma.  

Let’s imagine you’ve finally escaped your country. After a gruelling and often traumatic journey you have managed to arrive in the UK safely. You might feel both exhausted by the journey and what you’ve endured but also feel an unmistakable sense of relief. But that relief quickly fades once you find yourself sitting across from a Home Office asylum officer, being asked odd and inappropriate questions about your sex life or even hearing them say that you don’t even look gay or transgender.  

This isn’t just hypothetical. Over the last decade, many LGBT+ asylum seekers have had such shocking experiences. From intrusive questions to insensitive treatment, the asylum system can feel more like another hurdle than a safe haven.¹ Many LGBT+ asylum seekers are sometimes required to ‘prove’ their sexual orientation or gender identity in legal contexts such as Home Office interviews that may lack understanding or empathy. This process can be distressing for the individual and the ‘proof’ needed also often relies on Western conceptions of sexuality and expectations of LGBT+ lifestyles which can be highly stereotypical.²  

Types of evidence such as public displays of affection, social media posts and photos with partners - things that might seem normal for people in the UK - are naturally hard to come by for those fleeing persecution. In many countries, having such evidence could mean imprisonment or even death.  

While the Home Office has since provided guidelines to prevent the use of such inappropriate and invasive questions, the impact of this legacy lingers. For many LGBT+ asylum seekers, the asylum process continues to be not just about proving their identity but confronting the fear that they won’t be believed.  

One of our Young Leaders voiced their anxiety about engaging with the Home Office because of their sexuality:

"For a long time I did not disclose my sexuality to the Home Office because of the fear and anxiety of having to prove my sexuality during the process."

Furthermore, the asylum process can also risk retraumatisation for these individuals. Being forced to recount traumatic experiences over and over isn’t just exhausting—it can reopen old wounds and leave lasting scars. This can intensify ongoing mental health challenges, which are only worsened by the lack of transparency and long waiting times for their asylum claim to be processed.³  

Even after passing the initial screening interviews and being placed in asylum accommodation, many LGBT+ asylum seekers continue to face threats of abuse and discrimination - in many cases from the people they live alongside. Wider research has documented verbal and physical harassment in asylum accommodation, where LGBT+ individuals are housed with people from the same regions they fled.⁴  

In detention facilities, the situation can be even worse. LGBT+ asylum seekers have reported experiencing discrimination and harassment both from other detainees and from members of staff. These hostile environments lead to severe anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicide attempts.⁵ 

Now you’ve gone through the gruelling and traumatic asylum process and finally received your refugee status. But suddenly, a large wave of new questions hits you. 

What now? How do I get a job? Will I be discriminated against because of my sexuality, gender identity or even just because of my skin colour or where I come from? After all the trauma and mental health challenges that I’ve experienced, is there a safe space where I can just…be?  

After officially becoming refugees, many LGBT+ individuals find it very difficult to rebuild their lives and settle into society. The experiences of detention, retraumatisation, discrimination and abuse don’t just fade away and often leave lasting scars. Many continue to struggle with severe mental health issues, isolation, and further discrimination within British society.

LGBT+ refugees often face multiple layers of stigma, including xenophobia, racism, homophobia, and transphobia. This intersectionality leads to discrimination in crucial areas such as housing, employment, healthcare, and other essential services, further exacerbating feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, and depression.⁶

Research by Micro Rainbow International found that in a sample of 50 refugees who identified as lesbian or gay, 86% felt they had been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, not just in their country of origin but in the UK too. Even in job interviews, some refugees have been inappropriately asked questions regarding their sexuality, reflecting a systemic pattern of bias and misunderstanding.⁷

Additionally, many LGBT+ refugees feel excluded from their ethnic communities while also struggling to access local LGBT+ networks.⁸ Micro Rainbow International also found that 36% of respondents avoided socialising with co-nationals in the UK, unless they were also LGBT+, fearing the same prejudice they faced in their home countries. This kind of social isolation makes it even harder to feel a sense of belonging in their new country.⁹

But there is hope. Many organisations across the UK such as Rainbow Migration, Micro Rainbow, African Rainbow Family and many more provide vital support to LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers. These organisations work tirelessly to advocate for a more humane and inclusive asylum system while offering community spaces where refugees can build supportive relationships, find a sense of belonging and successfully rebuild their lives in the UK.

On a policy level, the current Labour government's commitment to a comprehensive reform of the asylum system and its subsequent abandonment of the Rwanda asylum plan presents a timely opportunity to reinvigorate engagement and advocacy for an asylum system that is more efficient and humane. The Rwanda plan posed significant risks to LGBT+ asylum seekers, as it could have resulted in people being sent to a country where LGBT+ rights are not fully protected and where discrimination and persecution remain serious concerns. Its cancellation offers a critical window to ensure that future policies reflect the progressive values of inclusion, compassion, and dignity, particularly for vulnerable groups like LGBT+ refugees.