MICKY MURRAY

HOT topic thats been used as a political football for longer than I can remember, and the argument against rarely changes. While some people feel that their concerns regarding security checks for those coming into the country, the lack of housing available to those already here, and people “taking our jobs” are valid, there are very many people who use these excuses as an invisibility cloak to conceal their own racist ideology.

Over the past few months there have been a couple of incidents making headlines, such as a hotel in Carrick being used to house asylum seekers, and most recently the horrific situation in Afghanistan which is forcing people to flee their homes to leave the country over genuine fears of what will happen to them as the country becomes increasingly under the control of the Taliban.

The conversation around immigration in the UK, mainly by right wing conservatives but also those opposed to immigration, is very much focused around the impact that people will have on society here, negating to take into account the impact that staying where they are will have on their lives and their families lives.

Firstly, some myth busting, the housing used to provide accommodation to asylum seekers is not social housing and they aren’t jumping the housing queue, these houses are privately owned and paid for by the Home Office, the lack of social housing available is not because of immigration but because social housing is being sold and not enough houses are being built.

The money they receive, which again is paid for by the Home Office, is under £40 per week, to pay for clothing, food, bills, and anything else they may need. I hear all the time that people are rocking up in nice clothes or have an up to date smart phone, but why is that relevant? Why is it your right to know what the contents of someone’s suitcase or handbag is?

As LGBTQ+ people we know the struggles we’ve faced over the years, we’ve all experienced some sort of discrimination or oppression in our lives, we live in a country which is economically better than most, and claims to be one of the most progressive societies.

Now I know for many people it’s getting easier to “come out” here, and usually we have a friend to confide in, but imagine if you had to live your life in constant fear of anyone finding out that you’re LGBTQ+. I remember confiding in someone who within half an hour had told one of my friendship groups that I was gay, when I really wasn’t ready to tell people, and it was gutting, I lost all trust in that person, it completely ruined our friendship, and ultimately it made me really anxious about telling others, but I was safe, no one was going to hurt me and I wasn’t going to be stoned in the street.

In Afghanistan, and many other countries, families disown, harm, and even murder family members for fear of what will happen to them if anyone else found out and because society there is not accepting or affirming, telling a family member or a close friend is a security risk, and so people go their whole lives frightened and fearful for their lives.

It’s only in recent years (1999 in the UK) that asylum based on fear of violence for being LGBTQ+ became a legitimate reason to seek asylum in another country. Before this it was perfectly lawful for the UK Government to send LGBTQ+ people back to their country of origin because they could simply hide their sexuality or gender identity and be perfectly safe from discrimination or harm, sounds easy right?

When I started my first job at the age of 16 in a call centre I was incredibly anxious, it felt like I was starting school all over again, it was a really stressful experience for me. You know that feeling when you walk into a training session, or into a new social setting and there are other LGBTQ+ people and you just feel more confident and accepted, maybe it’s just me, but I usually feel so much more at ease when there are other LGBTQ+ people around.

The weight lifted off the shoulders of those who have suppressed their own sexuality or gender identity for fear of their lives to come to a country where they have legal protections and society is much more progressive and accepting must be incredible. Just knowing that you can meet other LGBTQ+ people and talk about your experience and live a new life, and being able to “come out”.

…and then you meet the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, and have to prove that you’re LGBTQ+ enough to be allowed to stay in the country.

You’ve hid your sexuality and/or gender identity you’re entire life, you’ve got to the UK, with all the legal protections and societal acceptance that exists, and now you’ve to risk outing yourself enough for the Government to let you stay, and if they don’t believe you then they’re sending you back to a country where your life is now in imminent danger and the likelihood of you facing a lengthy prison sentence or death is incredibly high.

We have a moral obligation to provide a sanctuary for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers.

I’m no expert on immigration law or international politics, but I don’t need to be to know that what these people are experiencing in their country is wrong, immoral, and unethical, and we need to do better for our LGBTQ+ siblings across the world to ensure that they have a future worth living, so that they can live openly and proudly of who they are.

Ban Conversion Therapy NI Update.

If you’ve been following the campaign then you’ll be aware of the progress we’ve already made, we have support for a meaningful ban from the majority of NI Executive Ministers, and the majority of MLAs, although no legislation has been brought forward to ban conversion therapy, and it’s unlikely that this will happen during the current NI Assembly mandate, which is due to end in May 2022.

With the Department for Communities we have set-up a working group made up of five members of the Ban Conversion Therapy NI coalition, including myself, who will be meeting to discuss the legislation and push forward progress.

We’ve also started to set-up a faith sub-group made up of both coalition members and members of progressive faith based organisations who support a meaningful ban on conversion therapy, this is our way of ensuring that the opinions and beliefs of those with a faith are taking into account, just like they were with the legislation around marriage equality.

If you want anymore information on the coalition or the campaign please email banconversiontherapyni@ gmail.com or follow us on social media.

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Finally, a bit of a personal plug, I’m running the team relay of the Belfast Marathon, with 9 of my colleagues from the Alliance Party, in aid of The Rainbow Project, who we all know do great work for our community.

If you fancy giving a couple of pounds then visit our Just Giving page by searching Alliance Party on the Just Giving website, or by texting ALLIANCE 10 to 70470 to donate £10.

This is an opinion piece from the columnist/contributor and not the opinion of GNI MAG / Romeo & Julian Publications Ltd.