LGBT+ Asylum Seeker, Refugee & Migrant Peer Support Group

Despite unprecedented societal transformation in Ireland, frontline service provision for the LGBT+ community remains virtually non-existent. This is particularly evident to those people living here who need supports urgently; LGBT+ asylum seekers, refugees and migrants - a minority within a minority whose living situations can render individuals isolated and silent. Through both users of Outhouse and preliminary research on migrant and refugee LGBT+ populations here, the need to provide a self-organised safe space became evident.

In 2017, the peer support group Safe Space emerged, meeting every Saturday in Outhouse, and has grown in confidence and capacity since.

Work by BeLonG To in 2012 documented the significant needs and vulnerability of LGBT+ migrants. These individuals are very often the survivors of violence and other trauma in their home countries, where they may be criminalised by virtue of their sexual orientation or gender identity. After arrival, many individuals attest to experiencing great isolation, enforced secrecy and harassment; resulting in invisibility in most services. With the scars of their experience of fleeing persecution, many serious mental health difficulties inevitably ensue. Often when living among other migrants there are serious risks of violence by co-residents if their sexual orientation or gender identity becomes known.

In 2017 Outhouse ran an LGBT+ Migrant, Asylum Seeker and Refugee Personal Development Course. The participants all expressed the urgent need for the establishment of a permanent Peer Support Group, hence ‘Safe Space’ Peer Support Group formed. Currently 39 participants are registered. Countries represented include Zimbabwe, Malawi, Cameroon, Tanzania, Iran, Pakistan, India, Georgia and Russia.

Safe Space facilitates a male and female group and both groups also have non-binary participants. Safe Space is participant-led and during the last block of meetings, the participants outlined their priorities for the next sessions, which culminated in a day of visibility and solidarity at Pride, 2019.

People can join Safe Space by contacting Outhouse at reception@ outhouse.ie or calling us at 01 873 4999 and we then arrange transport to the group meetings (for participants that may need it) and a light lunch on the day of the meeting. Safe Space wants to be as accessible as possible.

As one member attests:

Being born as gay in a country where there is no legislation for LGBT is very tough. had to go through too many difficult challenges in order to survive, but having been provided a Safe Space in Ireland, it has helped me physically and mentally. ”