Tag Archives: Immigration

Germany: lack of protection for black lesbian refugees

L2L Germany

NGO figures indicate that in Bavaria around 95% of asylum applications made by black lesbian women are initially rejected by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

This contrasts with the general rejection rate of gay men of 50% and that of heterosexual women of around 30%. Although the numbers on LGBTI asylum applications are only an estimate because the BAMF does not separately register asylum cases from LGBTI people, these seem to show that lesbian asylum seekers in Germany are facing special challenges in their search for refugee protection.

Women and children are particularly vulnerable

This is especially true for black lesbian women of African descent who often experience forms of LGBTIQ-hostility such as social ostracism, racism and (sexual) violence.

In line with a recent EU directive, Germany recognises violations of human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for asylum. In addition, with the ratification of the 2011 Istanbul Convention, Germany recognises that gender-based violence can be a persecution and that refugee protection should therefore be guaranteed. Indeed, women and children, along with victims of sex trafficking, are considered the most vulnerable and vulnerable in the European asylum system.

As the 2019 statistics from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees show, over 50% of heterosexual women in Germany have successfully achieved refugee status as victims of gender-specific persecution (forced marriage, FGM, honour killings, rape, domestic violence or forced prostitution). However, lesbian refugees are struggling to show the violence and human rights violations they have experienced to receive protection of asylum.
(Translated)

NGO-Zahlen deuten darauf hin, dass in Bayern etwa 95 Prozent der Asylanträge, die von Schwarzen lesbischen Frauen gestellt werden, beim Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF) erst einmal eine Ablehnung erfahren.

Dies steht im Gegensatz zu der allgemeinen Ablehnungsrate von schwulen Männern von 50 Prozent und der von heterosexuellen Frauen von etwa 30 Prozent. Obwohl die Zahlen zu LSBTI-Asylanträgen nur eine Schätzung sind, weil das BAMF Asylfälle von LSBTI nicht gesondert erfasst, scheinen diese jedoch zu zeigen, dass lesbische Asylsuchende auf der Suche nach Flüchtlingsschutz in Deutschland besonderen Herausforderungen gegenüberstehen.

Frauen und Kinder gelten als besonders schutzbedürftig
Dies gilt insbesondere für Schwarze lesbische Frauen afrikanischer Herkunft, welche oft Formen von LSBTIQ-Feindlichkeit wie soziale Ächtung, Rassismus und (sexuelle) Gewalt erfahren.

In Übereinstimmung mit einer kürzlich erlassenen EU-Richtlinie erkennt Deutschland Menschenrechtsverletzungen aufgrund der sexuellen Ausrichtung und der Geschlechtsidentität als Asylgrund an. Darüber hinaus erkennt Deutschland mit der Ratifizierung der Istanbuler Konvention von 2011, dass geschlechtsspezifische Gewalt eine Verfolgung darstellen kann und daher Flüchtlingsschutz gewährleistet werden soll. Tatsächlich werden Frauen und Kinder zusammen mit den Opfern von Sexhandel als die schutzbedürftigsten und am stärksten gefährdeten Personen im europäischen Asylsystem betrachtet.

Wie die 2019 Statistik des Bundesamtes für Migration und Flüchtlinge zeigt, haben in Deutschland über 50 Prozent der heterosexuellen Frauen erfolgreich den Flüchtlingsstatus als Opfer geschlechtsspezifischer Verfolgung (Zwangsheirat, FGM, Ehrenmord, Vergewaltigung, häusliche Gewalt oder Zwangsprostitution) erlangt. Lesbische Geflüchtete kämpfen jedoch darum, erlebte Gewalt und Menschenrechtsverletzungen für den Flüchtlingsschutz geltend zu machen.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/queerspiegel/asylgrund-homosexualitaet-fehlender-schutz-fuer-schwarze-lesbische-gefluechtete/25938886.html (Source)

Spain: expulsion of Moroccan lesbian from migrant centre condemned

Melilla CETI

A Melilla migrant association, Prodein, denounced, Monday, the expulsion of a young Moroccan lesbian from a migrant reception center, as well as the assaults she allegedly suffered after sleeping on the street, Spanish news agency Europa Press said.

The last assault she suffered was on Friday, January 17, when she was threatened and injured in the hand while trying to protect herself from someone who reportedly attempted to stab her in the chest.

“The young woman expelled from CETI de Melilla (…) is sleeping on the street, where she has been subjected to several assaults for not accepting sexual advances”, Prodein’s president José Palazon told the same source.

Palazon said the young woman fled her home when she was 16, after her father wanted to marry her to a 50-year-old man. He also allegedly “locked her up to treat her from homosexuality”. (sic)

 

Continue reading at: https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/88165/melilla-denounces-expulsion-moroccan-lesbian.html (Source)

Guatemalan lesbian fled death threats and corrective rape

Marveny Suchite

Marveny Suchite hurriedly left Guatemala last November. She later told an American official that she had received death threats for being a lesbian, according to the formal notes taken by the authorities, to which Reuters had access.

Her mother warned her that there were people who were going to look for her, she told Reuters, explaining that they were “macho.” Suchite fled that day.

She had been beaten and raped before, first by close members of her family and then by strangers in an alley where he was ordered to “stop” being gay, according to the official’s notes that review asylum procedures.

She says she got pregnant after the attack in that alley and then, when she tried to report the rape to the police, they laughed at her.
(Translated)

Suchite dejó apresuradamente Guatemala en noviembre pasado. Más tarde le dijo a un funcionario estadounidense que había recibido amenazas a su vida por ser lesbiana, según las notas formales que tomó la autoridad y a las que Reuters tuvo acceso.

Su madre le advirtió que había personas que irían a buscarla, dijo a Reuters, explicando que eran “machistas”. Suchite huyó ese día.

Antes ya había sido golpeada y violada, primero por miembros cercanos de su familia y después por extraños en un callejón donde le ordenaron que “dejara” de ser gay, de acuerdo a las notas del funcionario que revisa los procedimientos de asilo.

Cuenta que quedó embarazada tras los ataques en ese callejón y que luego, cuando intentó reportar la violación ante la policía, se rieron de ella.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://lta.reuters.com/articulo/eeuu-migrantes-caravana-lgbt-idLTAKBN1WP2QZ (Source)

International Lesbian Day: Lesbian migration, living freely in Taiwan

Melinda Philippines to Taiwan

“I like life in Taiwan because I can live freely.” Melinda, a lesbian, was not accepted by her father in her native family. After coming to Taiwan [from the Philippines], she felt goodwill for the first time. “I When I first came to Taiwan, my mentor at work was very good with me. He didn’t discriminate against me because of my sexuality. When he told my male supervisor that I like girls, the male executive also said: “Go! Let’s go together and look for a girl for you!”

This is a friendly environment that allows Melinda to be herself; it is also because of this freedom that she wants to stay here and learn to be independent. She took us to the nearby Philippine grocery store to visit. I watched her talk to the clerk in a familiar way, sometimes whispering and sometimes laughing, and introducing us to the food and culture of the Philippines, so confident. Living so confidently is the reason why her mother wanted her to come to Taiwan.
(Translated)

「我喜歡在台灣的生活,因為我可以很自由地活著。」身為女同志的 Melinda,在原生家庭中不被父親所接受;來到台灣後,他第一次感受到善意,「我剛來台灣的時候,工作的導師跟我很好,完全沒有因為我的性向歧視我;而當他跟我的男主管說我喜歡女生時,那位男主管還說:『走!我們一起去找女孩!』」

便是這樣友善的環境,讓 Melinda 能自在地做自己;也是因為這份自在,讓他想繼續留在這裡,也因此學會了獨立。他帶著我們到附近的菲律賓雜貨店參觀,我看著他熟稔地與店員們談天,時而細語呢喃、時而開懷大笑,還向我們介紹菲律賓的食物與文化,如此自信的模樣或許也是他的母親希望他來台灣的原因吧。
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://womany.net/read/article/19973 (Source)

Germany: Azerbaijani lesbian forced to return to persecution for avoidable visa formality

L2L Germany
A lesbian living in Hamburg must apply for a new visa in Azerbaijan, even though she is threatened with persecution there. The authority suggests that she should just keep her homosexuality a secret.

According to [her lawyer] Brenneisen, what sounds like an annoying formality is a life-threatening threat to Maria M. According to the German embassy in Baku, the visa would take four to eight weeks. That’s how long Maria M. would have to stay in Azerbaijan. During this time she would be exposed and under threat as a lesbian. Above all, she is afraid of her own family, Maria M. tells the administrative judge in a low voice and in a pleading tone. Her brother is strictly religious – he will never accept the homosexuality of his own sister. Due to her fear, she is now in psychotherapy.

The German authorities have the capacity to make an exception to the strict visa requirement. Repeatedly, there are cases in which migrants with undisputed right of residence are not forced to return to their country of origin for purely formal reasons. Brenneisen, Maria’s lawyer, has already represented a gay man from Azerbaijan, who has been spared the same requirement. But where is the limit of the reasonable? When is such an exception displayed? “I have to compare that with other cases,” says the administrative judge, adding, “Supreme courts even consider it permissible for Turkish men to go back to Turkey for 18 months for military service.”

The hurdles are high. In order to demonstrate the facts of the situation, after the first court hearing the administrative judge commissioned a report on the threat to homosexuals in Azerbaijan. An ILGA (Gay Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) report indicates that the danger to lesbians in Azerbaijan is high, especially for women with a non-traditional appearance. Maria M. has several piercings on her face and has short hair.

However, although the judge commissioned that report himself, he does not take it into account. In early July he argued, in a letter to her lawyer Brenneisen which left him stunned, that Maria M, could easily avert the danger. In the letter the judge argued that Maria M. did not have to get in contact with her family during the two months during her stay. He also argued that she could cover her gender non confirming short hair with a scarf, to avoid attracting attention and remain anonymous.
(Translated)

Eine in Hamburg lebende Frau soll in Aserbaidschan ein Visum beantragen, obwohl ihr dort Verfolgung droht. Die Behörde rät: Sie soll ihre Homosexualität geheim halten.

Was nach einer lästigen Formalität klingt, bedeutet nach Überzeugung von Brenneisen Lebensgefahr für Maria M. Nach Auskunft der deutschen Botschaft in Baku würden zwischen vier und acht Wochen vergehen, bis das Visum ausgestellt sei. So lange müsste Maria M. in Aserbaidschan bleiben. In dieser Zeit aber wäre sie als lesbische Frau erneuter Bedrohung ausgesetzt. Vor allem vor ihrer eigenen Familie habe sie Angst, erzählt Maria M. dem Verwaltungsrichter, mit leiser Stimme und in bittendem Ton. Ihr Bruder sei streng religiös, die Homosexualität der eigenen Schwester würde er niemals akzeptieren. Aufgrund ihrer Angst sei sie inzwischen in Psychotherapie.

Die Ausländerbehörde hätte nun die Möglichkeit, eine Ausnahme von der strengen Visumpflicht zu machen. Immer wieder gibt es Fälle, in denen Migranten mit unstrittigem Aufenthaltsrecht nicht aus rein formellen Gründen in ihr Herkunftsland zurückreisen müssen. Brenneisen, Marias Anwalt, hat bereits einen schwulen Mann aus Aserbaidschan vertreten, dem ebendies erspart geblieben ist. Wo aber ist die Grenze des Zumutbaren? Wann ist eine solche Ausnahme angezeigt? “Ich muss das mit anderen Fällen vergleichen,” sagt der Verwaltungsrichter und fügt hinzu: “Die obersten Gerichte halten es sogar für zulässig, dass türkische Männer für 18 Monate zum Militärdienst zurück in die Türkei gehen.”

Die Hürden liegen hoch. Um einen sachlichen Maßstab zu finden, hat der Verwaltungsrichter nach einer ersten Gerichtsverhandlung ein Gutachten über die Bedrohung Homosexueller in Aserbaidschan in Auftrag gegeben. Aus einem Gutachten der Organisation ILGA (European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) geht hervor, dass die Gefahr für lesbische Frauen in Aserbaidschan groß ist – erst recht für Frauen mit einem für das Land untypischen Äußeren. Maria M. hat mehrere Piercings im Gesicht und trägt kurze, hochgegelte Haare.
Doch obwohl der Richter jenes Gutachten selbst in Auftrag gegeben hat, folgt er ihm nicht. Maria M. könne die Gefahr einfach abwenden, argumentierte er Anfang Juli in einem Brief an den Rechtsanwalt Brenneisen, der diesen fassungslos machte. Die Argumentation in dem Brief: Maria M. müsse mit ihrer Familie in den zwei Monaten während ihres Aufenthaltes einfach nicht in Kontakt treten. Und ihre untypisch kurzen Haare könnte sie ja mit einem Tuch bedecken – dann würde sie nicht auffallen und bliebe anonym.
(Original)

Continue reading at: https://www.zeit.de/hamburg/2019-08/homophobie-aserbaidschan-visum-sexualitaet-verwaltungsgericht-homosexualitaet (Source)

Belgium: Lesbian couple victim of lesbophobic violence in asylum centre

gona_en_lisa

‘From day one we already got threats. In one way or another the news spread very quickly that a lesbian couple was staying in the center. Since then, we are being chased and spitting at our feet. Once they threw balls at us, which caused me to suffer scrapes.But it quickly became a lot worse, “says an emotional Gona. 

The couple say she feels unsafe. ‘Our first room was completely behind the asylum center, far away from the employees. If something went wrong, it took a long time before an employee could come on the spot. ‘ They say it did not help that they were so far away from the employees. ‘In the evening only two staff members are present for the complete asylum center. If it goes wrong here, then all help will come too late. ” 

They were offered another room. But when they went to visit, the residents who stayed in the new hallway did not want to let them through. “A lesbian couple is not welcome in their ‘department'”.

Continue reading at: https://zizo-online.be/article/13252 (Source – Dutch)

Lesbian couple victim of LGBT violence in asylum center ZiZo-Online (Translated pdf – English)

Uganda: Lesbian facing deportation from UK despite fears of persecution

Screenshot 2018-01-15 at 12.54.14

Lazia Nabbanja had claimed asylum in the UK on the grounds that she would face oppression in her home country, but her bid was rejected by the Home Office last year. Despite her providing evidence of her sexuality, Ms Nabbanja’s lawyers told The Independent that Home Office officials used alleged inconsistencies in the details of her relationships to suggest they did not believe she is gay. Photos and videos of her attending gay pride marches have been widely shared on social media and she has been featured in Ugandan newspapers, prompting fears she could be arrested or attacked as soon as she returns to her home country.

Continue reading at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lesbian-uganda-women-deportation-home-office-lazia-nabbanja-gay-laws-a8123581.html (Source)

Being a refugee and a lesbian is difficult, says Somali woman

September 11, 2017 –Haji says that after lunch when the ceremony started she stood up and shouted that she would not be getting married because she had told her foster father already that she was attracted to women. She says other guests at the ceremony shouted at her and her foster father assaulted her. Her brothers took her to hospital. She decided not to lay a complaint with the police as her friends suggested, but rather to flee.

Continue reading at: http://www.mambaonline.com/2017/09/11/refugee-lesbian-difficult-says-somali-woman/ (Source)

Hong Kong criticised for refusing to accept visa ruling for British lesbian

Gigi Chao

Campaigner Gigi Chao said Hong Kong’s focus on family values tended to exclude the LGBT community. Photograph: Anthony Wallace/AFP/Getty Images

Campaigners for LGBT rights have hit out at Hong Kong’s government after it announced it would appeal against a landmark decision granting a British lesbian the right to live and work in the territory with her partner.

Continue reading at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/02/hong-kong-criticised-for-refusing-to-accept-visa-ruling-for-british-lesbian (Source)

SHE FLED PERSECUTION FOR BEING LESBIAN. HOSTILE QUESTIONING AT U.S. BORDER MADE HER AFRAID TO TELL THE TRUTH.

SITTING IN AN interrogation room at Dulles International Airport, Ella was paralyzed with fear. Terrified by the uniformed immigration officials lobbing questions at her, the 23-year-old Ugandan woman could think of only one thing: “I can’t go home.”

One year earlier, Ella had been caught in her village in bed with her female partner. Rounded up and taken out into the streets, she and her partner were forced to march naked through the village while being taunted, jeered at, and burned with searing paraffin oil. Police intervened to stop the mob from killing the women, but they arrested both Ella and her partner on charges of immorality. She was beaten in police custody.

Continue reading at: https://theintercept.com/2017/11/04/uganda-lesbian-us-asylum-seeker/ (Source)

British lesbian wins landmark spousal visa case in Hong Kong

A British lesbian has been granted a dependent visa in Hong Kong in what is being seen as a landmark judgement in a city which does not recognise same-sex marriage.

Dependent visas, which allow the holder to live and work in Hong Kong, are normally only granted for husbands or wives of those who move to the city for employment.

The woman, who was named as QT in court filings, entered into a civil partnership in the UK in 2011.

Continue Reading at: British lesbian wins landmark spousal visa case in Hong Kong (Source)

Rejected for choosing ‘lesbian lifestyle,’ Ghana refugee gets new asylum hearing in Israel

Elam, who is representing Amponsah together with attorney Nitzan Ilani, said, “Now it is clear that the great suffering that Mavis endured from the Population Authority, including illegal incarceration of many months, and major legal expenses, was unnecessary. We asked two years ago to interview Mavis in her own language, as is required by court rulings and the procedures of the Authority itself. But the Authority refused. Thus it is operating against the law and forced us to appeal to the Appeals Tribunal just to compel the Authority, two years later, to act according to the law.”

Continue reading at: Rejected for choosing ‘lesbian lifestyle,’ Ghana refugee gets new asylum hearing in Israel – Israel News – Haaretz.com (Source)

Hong Kong: Court rules banks offering support to expat lesbian couple would not offer any new argument

A strong show of solidarity from 12 leading international financial institutions in support of an expatriate lesbian spouse was rejected by a Hong Kong court on Thursday on the grounds they would be unlikely to offer new arguments.

Continue reading at: Pro-LGBT banks offering support to expat lesbian couple would not offer any new argument, Hong Kong court rules | South China Morning Post (Source)

Kenyan lesbian fails Swedish immigration ‘gay test’

Some of the questions asked by the migration board include: “Would you describe yourself as lesbian or gay?”, “When do you feel that you became sexually interested in other people? How do you think about this?” And “For me, this sounds like a form of sexual exploitation of you, and not one Equal sex relationship”

“I did not understand anything. No one told me what to expect. What I would do or say, or at least give me some guidelines,” she said.

Lucy further alleges that her life is in danger because her name has been released as a lesbian in the infamous Ugandan Tabloid Red Pepper among 200 other African lesbians.

Continue reading at: Kenyan lesbian fails Swedish ‘gay test’ – Entertainment News (Source)

Lesbian asylum seeker says ex-husband will kill her if Britain deports her to Nigeria

A Nigerian woman held at Britain’s most infamous immigration detention center has pleaded with the authorities not to send her back to her home country, where her ex-husband is allegedly waiting to kill her.

Continue reading at: Lesbian asylum seeker says ex-husband will kill her if Britain deports her to Nigeria — RT UK (Source)