Prepared by: Charlotte, Robin and Ariadna, January 2023
LGBT refugees from Uganda pose in a protected section of the Kakuma refugee camp in northwest Kenya in 2014.
From: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gay-refugees-kenya-report-repeated-attacks-locals-n1113456
09/2019 – African asylum seeker research project
Research into African LGBT asylum seekers’ experience and ways to support. the report highlights the effect that being both LGBT and black had on the refugees, with 44% of interviewees stating that they faced discrimination from other Africans and/or Black- British people in the UK. 22% of interviewees states that they believed that they were discriminated against within the asylum application process for being African.
19/01/2021 – I couldn’t come out as a lesbian until I came to the uk
An article written by an LGBT activist who came to the UK from Cameroon to seek asylum because of her sexuality. When she publically came out as a lesbian via social media in 2017, a high-profile Cameroonian producer threatened to ‘rape the spirit of lesbianism out of me’ if she ever step foot in her country again. she has not been back to Cameroon – even when her mother died of cervical cancer in 2017. speaks about the notions that it is ‘un-African to be gay.’
2014 – Responding to LGBT forced migration in East Africa
Following the passing of Uganda’s Anti-homosexuality Act in December 2013 many Ugandans sought safety in various countries such as Kenya with at least 400 Ugandans fleeing to Kenya between January 2014 and February 2015. This report talks about the various reasons for wanting to leave vs the reasons to stay.
28th March 2014 – Gay asylum: how do you prove your sexuality? Channel 4 news
News segment exploring African migrants’ experiences with British immigration processes.
01/10/20 – African sexuality and the legacy of imported homophobia
Exploration of British empire influences on African sodomy laws. There is a direct correlation between countries which have previously been under British rule, and countries that still have homophobic and/or transphobic legislature in their constitutions – this phenomenon is specific to those under British rule. In no African country prior to colonisation do we see any persecution of LGBT individuals because of their sexuality, nor any anti-LGBT laws.
2020 – Transphobic attack in a refugee camp in Kenya
report of a transphobic attack on a Ugandan refugee where they were left ‘bleeding profusely’ while in a Kenyan refugee camp. The range of Sudanese refugees have reportedly ‘waged war’ on the Queer refugee camp residents and ‘have vowed to harm all LGBT refugees in Kakuma.’ this is the 5th time the trans refugee has been attacked by the group.