These publications provide excellent guidance for people interested in setting up or improving support services to LGBT asylum seekers in the U.S. Click on images to download the reports.
Existing grassroots support groups are also useful ports of call for guidance to joining, or setting up an LGBT asylym support group. See here for more information.
LGBT-FAN’s Stronger Together: A Guide to Supporting LGBT Asylum Seekers was launched in October 2015, with support from the Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force. Over 100 people contributed to Stronger Together, which is intended to bolster the growing movement of LGBT asylum seeker support and advocacy. The publication was informed by detailed surveys, interviews and review sessions with service providers, immigration lawyers, researchers and—most importantly—over 70 asylum seekers and asylees.
To inquire about ordering hard copies of Stronger Together, please email info@lgbt-fan.org.
Heartland Alliance International published Rainbow Response: A Practical Guide to Resettling LGBT Refugees and Asylees, their guide to aiding LGBTQ asylum seekers, asylees and refugees resettle in the USA, in 2013. The publication is intended to support resettlement service providers in their efforts to tailor core services and meet the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender refugees and asylees. An update to the guide is available here.
Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM) published Rainbow Bridges: A Community Guide to Rebuilding the Lives of LGBTI Refugees and Asylees in 2012. It offers advice and guidance to groups working to advocate for and help resettle LGBT asylum seekers, asylees and refugees.
Bridges of Faith is a supplement to that report, specifically designed for faith-based groups.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights produced the guide The Challenges to Successful Lesbian Asylum Claims, which should be particularly useful for legal service providers.
The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) published Asylee Eligibility for Resettlement Assistance in January 2012. This guide provides a general overview of resources available for asylees. It does not discuss LGBT people specifically, but is a useful resource.
The Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) published these State Profiles in March 2012.
This is a state by state guide to refugee populations, services available to refugees and local affiliates and voluntary agencies in the area.
Pathways Forward: Foundation Funding for LGBTQ Immigration Issues
A report on the state of funding for LGBTQ immigration support, campaings and organizations in the US, researched and written by Danilo Machado and Ben Francisco Maulbeck for Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Useful graphics highlights key issues faced by LGBTQ immigrants in the US, and the publication advises on who is funding what right now.
This is an excellent academic / research resource: An annotated bibliography of legal and social sciences research sources related to refugee claims based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Gender Expression: Essential Terminology for the Humanitarian Sectoris a language tool that assists humanitarian professionals to communicate effectively and respectfully with and about people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities across five languages: English, French, Turkish, Farsi, and Arabic.
