Fletcher, ‘Seeking support in Faith’, 2021

Claire Fletcher, ‘Seeking support in Faith: experiences of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in the UK’, Network for Migration Matters, 16 June 2021

Abstract

The global North is a hostile environment for all of those seeking asylum, but queer asylum seekers face even greater challenges than their heteronormative counterparts. This is mainly because of the limited criteria in which they need to make their non-heteronormativity visible to be deemed deserving of protection (UKLGIG, 2010; UKLGIG, 2018). Challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans gender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people seeking asylum are not limited to their asylum claim but are also experienced when seeking support during the asylum process. Barriers faced by LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum is an important aspect of the asylum process, especially as destitution[1] amongst the asylum-seeking community is already prevalent and continues to rise. Creating destitution within the asylum-seeking community is part of the UK government’s strategy of the hostile environment and has been a tactic used by consecutive governments for well over a decade. As far back as 2006 the Joint Committee on Human Rights suggested that ‘government actions have resulted in a high level of destitution among asylum seekers, both as a deliberate policy aim and because of administrative inefficiency’ (JCHR, 2006-07:24).