The Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Asylum Seekers in New York City

Background: Every year, thousands of individuals facing persecution based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity flee their countries to seek legal and political protection in the U.S. Upon arrival, LGBT asylum seekers (LGBTAS) experience a complex risk environment characterized by structural, social and individual­ level factors. These factors negatively impact health and well-being such as unemployment, unstable housing, lack of social networks, and untreated trauma. Developing effective interventions enhance well-being requires a better understanding of the immediate needs of LGBTAS. To this end, this objective of this study is to better understand the needs of LGBTAS in in NYC.

Methods: This study was conducted at a large social service provider, specifically the Asylum project department, in NYC.  In-­depth qualitative interviews were conducted between October 2015 and January 2016 with 28 Asylum Project participants in NYC. Participants identified as being LGBT and seeking legal asylum in the U.S. Interviews ranged from 30 to 60 minutes and were transcribed, coded and analyzed. Thematic analysis was utilized

Results: Participants originated from eight countries: Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Russia, Tunisia, and Uganda and fled their countries of origin (COS) in response to LGBT-­related violence or threat of violence. Interviews revealed unique needs of this population that have the potential to be addressed through social service intervention by providing material, procedural, and social resources.

Material: Due to the threat of violence, many LGBTAS left their COS quickly and without a plan for housing and employment upon arrival, often abandoning assets and other material resources to hastily escape persecution. Additionally, delays in work authorization impedes LGBTAS ability to obtain legal employment. Participants noted that the availability of immediate housing provided by the social service agency helped them to focus on the Asylum documents as well as other more immediate needs.

Procedural: Participants described the asylum seeking process as confusing and cumbersome. However, support to successfully complete this process is essential to achieve the legal benefits of asylum status and was provided by the social service agency (Attorney, etc).

Social: Many LGBTAS arrive without a social support system. The sense of community engendered by the Asylum Project was a lifeline of mutual support and understanding. Many participants had a history of LGBT activism in their COS.  By connecting to others in the Asylum Project, some participants were inspired to continue their advocacy in the U.S.

Conclusions: The NASW code of ethics mandates that social workers support the vulnerable and oppressed. Persecution of LGBT individuals is an ongoing source of oppression worldwide. LGBT individuals who come to the United States in fear of their lives deserve more than platitudes on equal opportunity and freedom. This study adds to the current social work knowledge base by finding that social service institutions can position themselves to be a critical resource to meet the unique and urgent needs of this vulnerable group by providing immediate material support, assistance with a lengthy and daunting legal process, and community structures which provide social support and a potential platform for social change.