Gay Asylum Seekers

A few weeks ago,

adamfoxie* posted an article in regards to gay asylum seekers and that in many cases it would help them if they looked fem, queeny, etc. The NY time also reported on this. adamfoxie* never took a position wether that was good or bad( gay looking  in what some ignorant people think gays should look like), etc. It was reported and posted because it was news affecting the Gay/Lesbian community, no matter in what country they are., which happens to be this site's reason for it's existence.

After that introduction let me show a post from 

Victoria Neilson and Lori Adams,  from New York City.

These writers are, respectively, legal director of Immigration Equality and staff attorney of the Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First:

Re “Gays Seeking Asylum in U.S. Encounter a New Hurdle” (news article, Jan. 29 NY Times):

While we appreciate your coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum seekers, the article is not consistent with our experience in several ways.

Each year, Immigration Equality and Human Rights First provide legal representation to hundreds of asylum seekers, and our legal team and pro bono lawyers win safe haven for most of these individuals.

In our experience, however, it is exceedingly rare for asylum seekers — whose families and home countries often stigmatize gay and transgender people — to present themselves falsely as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender to immigration officials. We have not seen an emerging trend of straight individuals claiming to be gay for immigration purposes.

Indeed, asylum seekers undergo rigorous evaluation by immigration officials to ensure that their claims are authentic. Nor have we seen a “new hurdle” for L.G.B.T. asylum seekers having to prove that they are “socially visible.” While there have been a few cases where adjudicators have demonstrated a bias in L.G.B.T. cases, we have found that most United States officials do their jobs, and verify claims made in asylum applications while respecting an individual’s identity as an L.G.B.T. person.

Until L.G.B.T. rights are respected around the world, asylum remains a lifeline for those fleeing persecution.