Our observation

A welcoming environment that still needs to be built

Around the world, LGBTQIA+ people are forced to flee their countries due to persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics (SOGIEC). For them, applying for asylum offers hope of finding safety.

Belgium is often portrayed as a pioneer in the field of LGBTQIA+ rights. In reality, the reception of LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers can still be improved to better address their specific needs. Belgian migration policy has also become stricter in recent years: more complex procedures, longer processing times, overcrowding in reception centers, and increased precariousness. This context makes LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers even more vulnerable.

These individuals find themselves at the intersection of numerous forms of discrimination linked in particular to their ethnic origin, their immigration status, and their OSIEGCS. During their asylum proceedings, they constantly navigate between hypervisibility—necessary to be deemed credible during interviews—and invisibility—essential to protect themselves from queerphobia.

In this context, you—the professionals supporting them—play a central role in helping to create a safer, more attentive, and more inclusive environment.