LGBTIQ refugees and protection from violence

LGBTI people flee to Germany, among other reasons, because they are oppressed and persecuted in their countries of origin because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Their freedom, life, and limb are threatened. Germany must provide them with protection and shelter.

Problematic accommodation in shared accommodation

But even in Germany, LGBTI refugees experience racist, transphobic, homophobic and sexist Discrimination and violence. Accommodation in initial reception centers, emergency shelters, and shared accommodations, in particular, greatly increases the threat to these groups. There is little privacy; strangers have to sleep in the same room or share bathrooms and kitchen facilities. This situation creates a high degree of vulnerability for LGBTI people.

Isolation, lack of privacy, and uncertain prospects, often caused by long waiting times in the asylum process, encourage violence. People belonging to socially marginalized groups are particularly affected.

What makes matters worse is that LGBTI people who were persecuted in their country of origin because of their sexual or gender identity often find it difficult to disclose their identity, especially to authorities. Those affected are also often unaware that they can claim persecution based on their gender identity as grounds for asylum.

Lack of awareness among consultants and authorities

Many LGBTI people prefer to live in large cities because they can more easily connect with communities and access specialized counseling services. They feel better protected from new discrimination in the anonymity of big cities. However, many counselors assume that LGBTI people generally do not experience discrimination in Germany and do not take these concerns seriously.

Those affected complain about the often lack of awareness among staff at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. Interpreters can also pose a threat due to discriminatory attitudes and a lack of awareness. There are also numerous reports of intrusive questions about sexuality being asked during interviews – even though this is prohibited by the European Court of Human Rights.

Even in the shelters, staff are often not sensitized to the issue, and there are no competent contact persons. Information about counseling options outside the shelters is rarely available.