Reaching out to Refugees

The refugee crisis is not over and LGBT Syrians are particularly in need of culturally competent support.

By Hala-Mary Hazar

The LGBT population is mostly comfortable in the United States right now. Marriage equality is now legal in all 50 states, so we can marry whomever we love and receive equal rights. But what about those who come from countries where it isn’t even safe to be gay, let alone to fight for equal rights? And what happens when those people are forced to flee due to violence and terrorism?

It’s been in the news constantly: refugees fleeing for safety in droves. They are fleeing in terrifyingly precarious rafts to varying degrees of success and paying huge amounts of money to try to save themselves and their families. They are leaving everything they know behind - their safety nets, families, and memories. What could possibly make this a better option than staying put? What has the world come to that this is really their best option to be able to live in peace? It’s terrible for everyone, but what happens to the ones who cannot safely be themselves and worry that coming out means certain death? Daesh is known to throw men they believe to be gay off roofs, for no other reason than their perceived sexual orientation [Daesh is an Arabic acronym for the group commonly referred to as ISIS in the United States. –Ed.].

An LGBT Syrian refugee shares his personal story with Bay Area high schoolers who are helping raise money to purchase food cards for LGBT refugees in Turkey.Credit: Courtesy of ORAM.

As a representative from Proud Lebanon, which aids LGBT Syrian refugees, explained to Daily Beast reporter Amelie Zaccour, LGBT Syrians are “double refugees.” In addition to the ethnic or religious persecution faced by all Syrian refugees, LGBT Syrians are also persecuted by those within their community – even fellow refugees – leaving them especially vulnerable.

Have we become somewhat complacent in the US when it comes to equal rights? Here’s a reminder of where we are in the world in terms of LGBT rights: We still face discrimination in the US, but what we don’t see speaks volumes. According to the World Economic Forum, there are laws against homosexuality throughout much of Africa and the Middle East. Even in countries where homosexuality is not criminalized, anti-discrimination protections are rare. Large swaths of Europe, Asia, and Africa have no laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, while most countries in North and South America only provide limited protections.

Organizations that support LGBT refugees are out there. But they are hard to find and often advertised via word of mouth. The resources that exist are small and grassroots, but growing with increased need. Toronto, Amsterdam, and Berlin have organizations that aid LGBT refugees. Sadly, the United States is not nearly active enough in providing support to LGBT refugees.

People want to help and we should be more active and involved in doing so, while remaining cognizant that our needs (as LGBT Americans and allies) and their needs (as LGBT refugees) will not be the same. There are nuances to their issues; for them, LGBT rights are embedded within the political and human rights context of their native countries. In their home regions, refugees often lack protection from the government. Then, when they finally reach Europe, they face the same persecution at the hands of their fellow refugees. Living in cramped quarters with little personal space, they are unable to escape harassment by other refugees. The Lesbian and Gay Federation of Berlin and Brandenburg reported to the Washington Post that approximately three to six gay asylum seekers are victimized by fellow asylum seekers each week.

Refugees need resources, safety, and understanding of their complex situation. The issue is not just protecting gay rights, but ensuring that we respect the basic humanity of all and provide safety based on political persecution as well as LGBT oppression. We need to better understand the circumstances of LGBT Syrians and not force them out of the closet. We need to provide resources to support them in dealing with what they have gone through. By coercing Western standards of how we have dealt with our fight for LGBT equality on those living with significantly different experiences, we may cause more harm than good.

We can use the progress we have made here in the United States to make an impact and help those from less safe countries. What can you do to help LGBT refugees when they arrive in the US? Donate your time, goods or money. House a refugee. Introduce them to other LGBT people and communities. Help teach language skills or how to use the public transportation system. If they are interested, take them to religious organizations that welcome them.

Refugees need resources, safety, and understanding of their complex situation. The issue is not just protecting gay rights, but ensuring that we respect the basic humanity of all and provide safety based on political persecution as well as LGBT oppression.

It’s best to work with a group that assists refugees. Find communities of LGBT refugees by reviewing the list of resources for one in your area. Attend meetings in your local city or town. Learn ways to help. Sponsor a refugee. Help fund them abroad.

LGBT refugees can find support from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) LGBTI Caucus of the Refugee Congress, which advocates for better supports for LGBTI refugees in the United States.

There are a number of organizations that will provide free legal services, including Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project here in the Greater Boston area, which represents asylum and detention clients. Other organizations in Massachusetts providing free legal representation to LGBTQ immigrants include Community Legal Services & Counseling Center (CLSACC) and Ascentria. Additionally, Immigration Equality provides free immigrationrelated legal assistance to LGBT people throughout the country.

Charities, Refugee & Immigrant Assistance Center, and the International Institute of Boston provide comprehensive refugee resettlement services, such as housing, acculturation and language classes, job training and application assistance, and legal help.

Refugees can find social support and community through numerous organizations such as the Brotherhood of the Billys and Radical Faeries on the West Coast of the US and Vancouver, Canada, as well as other parts of the world. They can also find support online at ahwaa.org (“Ahwaa” means “passions” in Arabic), a discussion platform, in both Arabic and English, for LGBTQ youth in the Middle East. The Heartland Alliance’s Rainbow Welcome Initiative and Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration (ORAM) provide resources for LGBT refugees and those seeking asylum.

If you are interested in helping refugees, these are some excellent organizations to contact in order to volunteer your time or to make donations of money, food, clothing, and other essentials.

Hala-Mary Hazar is Director of Analytics by day and a member of Coro Allegro, Boston's LGBT classical choir by night. She is also a former board member of the organization. In addition, she leads Queer Arab, Desi, North African group (QADBA) and is a contributing member to Professional Queer Women of Color (PQWOC). Hala-Mary is training to be a yoga instructor.