Search results for ‘Subject term:"lgbt people"’ Sort:
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No going back: lesbian and gay people and the asylum system
- Author:
- MILES Nathanael
- Publisher:
- Stonewall
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 36p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Consensual acts between same-sex adults are criminalised in 80 member states of the United Nations and homosexuality results in the death penalty in 6 of these countries. Lesbian, gay and bisexual people face execution, torture, rape and murder from people in their own community or from their government. In November 2009, Stonewall interviewed lesbian, gay and bisexual asylum-seekers, legal professionals, asylum support workers and UK Border Agency (UKBA) staff in order to find out how lesbian, gay and bisexual people seek asylum in the UK and how UKBA staff respond to their applications. The interviews covered all aspects of the asylum process and considered how lesbian, gay and bisexual people move through the asylum system and how decisions are made and communicated. The results of those interviews are presented in this report. The results demonstrate how many lesbian, gay and bisexual people are not granted permission to asylum in the UK because of fundamental errors of judgement and presumptions made by UKBA staff and judges about sexual orientation. Consequently, lesbian and gay people seeking asylum experience significant and specific disadvantages as a direct consequence of their sexual orientation.
‘The darkest times of my life’: recollections of child abuse among forced migrants persecuted because of their sexual orientation and gender identity
- Authors:
- ALESSI Edward J., KAHN Sarilee, CHATTERJI Sangeeta
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 51, 2015, pp.93-105.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Numerous studies demonstrate that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) children and youth are likely to experience abuse by peers, parents, and other adults and that these experiences correlate with a host of mental health problems. However, there is little understanding of the experiences of LGBT children and youth living in countries where social and legal protections for sexual and gender minorities are limited or nonexistent. This qualitative study used thematic analysis to explore the child and adolescent abuse experiences and their impact on the pre-migration mental health of LGBT forced migrants. The study analysed 26 interviews with individuals who obtained refugee or asylum status in the United States or Canada on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Participants originated from countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Analysis revealed the following themes: abuse by parents and caregivers, abuse by peers and school personnel, having nowhere to turn, and dealing with psychological distress. Findings indicate that participants experienced severe verbal, physical, and sexual abuse throughout childhood and adolescence and that this abuse occurred at home, in school, and in the community. Furthermore, there were no resources or sources of protection available to them. Participants linked their abuse to subjective experiences of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The article concludes with implications for refugee adjudication practices, mental health care, and international policy. (Edited publisher abstract)
Experiences of faith for gender role non-conforming Muslims in resettlement: preliminary considerations for social work practitioners
- Author:
- KAHN Sarilee
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 45(7), 2015, pp.2038-2055.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
For social workers striving for cultural competency and strength-based approaches with refugees resettled in the West, attention to the role of religion and faith as potential resources is particularly vital. With rising numbers of refugees fleeing from Islamic societies to Western host countries over the past two decades, social work research has articulated Islam as a source of strength and group solidarity, as well as the trigger for anti-Islam bias and discrimination. However, Muslims are not a monolithic group. This article reports on a qualitative study with fourteen Muslims seeking US asylum due to persecution based upon their gender role non-conforming behaviours. Findings suggest that, for persons in this category, relationships to religion and faith may be complex, and potentially traumatic. Creating opportunities for gender role non-conforming refugees from Islamic societies to discuss religion and spirituality, with appropriate psychological support and without judgements from co-ethnic others or service providers, is an important clinical intervention for social workers to consider. (Publisher abstract)
Good practices related to LGBTI asylum applicants in Europe
- Author:
- JANSEN Sabine
- Editor:
- LE DEROFF Joel
- Publisher:
- ILGA-Europe
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 57
- Place of publication:
- Brussels
This report provides information on the current state of affairs in EU Member States in relation to the handling of LGBTI asylum cases and showcases good policy and practices from 13 countries. The report covers a broad range of aspects and issues relating to the asylum application process, including: criminalisation, discretion, credibility, late disclosure, internal flight alternative, country of origin information, interviewers and interpreters, LGBTI sensitivity trainings and special expertise, and the conditions in reception facilities. The document is intended to help frame comprehensive advocacy, capacity building, awareness raising and litigation strategies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Seldom heard or frequently ignored? Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) perspectives on mental health services
- Author:
- CARR Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, 3(3), September 2010, pp.14-23.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The mental health of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people and some of the factors that influence the engagement of LGB people with mental health services are discussed. The article looks at the evidence base about LGB mental health, LGB experiences of mental health services, and explores some of the particular difficulties encountered by black and minority ethnic LGB people or LGB people who are seeking asylum. It concludes by discussing how mental health services might respond to and provide for all LGB people and communities in the future.
Challenges facing LGBT asylum seekers: the role of social work in correcting oppressive immigration processes
- Author:
- HELLER Paula
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 21(2-3), April 2009, pp.294-308.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Asylum remains an important means for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) immigrants to stay in the United States. This author extends the seminal work of Yoshino (2006), who explores the ways society forces oppressed groups to downplay or cover aspects of their identities. Yet, LGBT asylum-seekers must prove the authenticity of their sexual identity by ‘reverse-covering’, emphasising traits based on stereotypes of sexual minorities. Reverse-covering demands made by the asylum process, challenge LGBT immigrants, particularly given the influence of race and culture on sexual identity. This article presents micro- and macro- practice implications.
Left out: why many LGBTQ+ people aren't accessing their rights to housing in the UK
- Author:
- VERONESI Mariangela
- Publisher:
- World Habitat
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 16
- Place of publication:
- London
This report presents evidence and case studies which highlight the disproportionate number of housing issues faced by LGBTQ+ people. These cause high-levels of hardship and discrimination but are mostly ignored. The report examines the impact of this with a specific focus on: older people, those experiencing domestic violence, asylum seekers and refugees, and those who are homeless. A key recommendation of the report is for housing organisations to implement a training to enable a better understanding of the housing needs of LGBTQ+ people. (Edited publisher abstract)
No safe refuge: experiences of LGBT asylum seekers in detention
- Author:
- BACHMANN Chaka L.
- Publisher:
- Stonewall
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 32
- Place of publication:
- London
Joint report from Stonewall and the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group (UKLGIG) which investigates the experiences of LGBT asylum seekers seeking asylum due to persecution for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Researchers conducted 22 interviews with LGBT asylum seekers who had been held in UK detention centres. Interviews covered their experiences with staff and other detainees, their physical and emotional well-being in detention, and access to legal and health services. Participants were from 11 different countries in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and Russia. The research found that LGBT asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable in immigration detention and experience discrimination, harassment and violence from other detainees and from members of staff. The detention environment has serious long-term effects on their mental and physical well-being. The LGBT asylum seekers interviewed felt forced to hide their identity, for fear of abuse. Detainees who were known to be LGBT were bullied, harassed or physically attacked by other detainees, and victims said they did not feel protected by detention staff. Interviewees also reported being denied access to medication, such as anti-depressants and HIV-drugs. Direct quotations from the interviews are included throughout. The findings show that staff are ill-equipped to meet the needs of LGBT people or to protect them from harassment from fellow detainees. The report makes recommendations, including for the Home Office to implement alternatives to detention and the provision of guidance and training for staff in immigration and removal centres to enable them to identify and tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. (Edited publisher abstract)
A bed of roses?: exploring the experiences of LGBT newcomer youth who migrate to Toronto
- Author:
- MUNRO Lauren
- Journal article citation:
- Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, 6(4), 2014, pp.137-150.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This study sought to gain a better understanding of the general life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) newcomer youth, situated within the broader context of their lives post-migration. The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of various forms of oppression experienced by LGBT newcomers and offers recommendations for transforming services to better serve the complex needs of this marginalized population. Design/methodology/approach: The Teens Resisting Urban Trans/Homophobia (TRUTH) project was comprised of ten focus groups with 70 youth (aged 14-29) living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Another three focus groups were conducted with 13 GTA service providers and teachers working with LGBT youth, in addition to one key informant interview. For this paper, the authors drew from a subset of the data including four newcomer-specific focus groups in which there were 39 youth who identified as refugees or immigrants, as well as key informant interviews with four youth (three of whom also participated in focus groups) and one service provider. Participants were asked about “what homophobia and transphobia meant to them”, “where they experienced it”, “in what forms”, and “how it impacted their daily lives”. Findings: The experiences of LGBT newcomer youth in this study involved a complex negotiation of multiple systems of oppression. Youth described experiences of homophobia and racism within interpersonal relationships, in the LGBT community, in their respective diasporic communities, in social service encounters and during the immigration/refugee process. Barriers for LGBT refugee youth included difficulties finding work and accessing health care, as well as the additional burden of proving their sexual orientation during refugee claimant hearings. Research limitations/implications: While the combination of focus groups and key informant interviews is a strength in this study, it also presents challenges for analysis. In focus groups, it is not always clear who is speaking; because of this, the authors were sometimes unable to differentiate between refugee and immigrant youth (or those without status) in our focus groups, making it often unclear which perspective or experience youth were speaking to. Another limitation was the dominance of the “cisgender gay male voice” in our conclusions. Lesbian and bisexual women were present in fewer numbers and the sample only included three trans youth. Practical implications: The findings reveal systemic discrimination on the basis of race and sexual orientation that illuminate injustices within Canadian society and systems that can enhance the efforts of those working in policy and service environments. Focused anti-homophobia and anti-racism training, and the implementation of policies designed to enhance accessibility, could improve service provision for newcomer LGBT youth. Furthermore, in order to facilitate a more just settlement process, a broader understanding of sexual identity, gender identity, and gender expression is required of the refugee claimant system. Originality/value: This study examines the experiences of youth in a large and complex, multicultural, and gay-friendly urban centre, thus providing timely and current data about the well-being of newcomer LGBT youth. As such, it is one of the first studies to offer some insights into the life issues and challenges post-migration of Canadian LGBT newcomer youth. (Edited publisher abstract)
Access to justice: a review of existing evidence of the experiences of minority groups based on ethnicity, identity and sexuality
- Authors:
- MASON Paul, et al
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Ministry of Justice
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 77p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This is the report of an exploratory investigative review of access to justice for vulnerable groups. The research questions were selected to give breadth of coverage to the ways in which access to justice might be experienced. The findings are presented and discussed under the following headings: black and minority ethnic (BME) groups; gypsies and travellers; refugees and asylum seekers; sexuality. The report concludes that, based on the evidence available in 2007, there was a clear evidence gap in seeking to understand experiences of justiciable problems. The authors make a number of recommendations for consideration in policy, practice and research. The appendix provides details of the research methodology including search strategies employed and databases searched.