We are recruiting a new trustee who is or has been a refugee due to persecution as an LGBTQI+ person.
The deadline for applications is 9.30am on 1 May. Find out more and how to apply on our website: www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/news/become-...
![A black young woman looking seriously at the camera.
Text read - Olu, a lesbian from Nigeria: “The asylum process has been really heartbreaking for me. I was expecting to be welcomed, to be embraced, and that they [the government] would help me out, but they are adding more terror into my life.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:t427bktqixsceyypt2v745fq/bafkreieky2gwoj37xgdbluyfmnirgpss22ijqxkepa4wen2svycu2iazjy)
A black young woman looking seriously at the camera. Text read - Olu, a lesbian from Nigeria: “The asylum process has been really heartbreaking for me. I was expecting to be welcomed, to be embraced, and that they [the government] would help me out, but they are adding more terror into my life.”
Today marks the start of Lesbian Visibility Week and we wanted to share these words from Olu.🏳️🌈❣️
We are happy to say that Olu was granted refugee status in 2024. You can read her story here: buff.ly/zh1EzcV
photo of Asian woman holding a rainbow placards that says Refugees Welcome. Text overlaid reads: Our joint statement. We stand united with over 100 organisations against harmful BBC reporting that targets already marginalised communities.
We stand united with over 100 organisations: Instead of investigations that contribute to division, we call for responsible reporting that sheds a light on systemic injustices and highlights the voices of those most affected by them.
Read our joint statement buff.ly/OBWMGpq
⭐️Find out more at out webinar tomorrow (Friday 17 April from 1-2pm): sign up now
buff.ly/T0cZt4H
We're looking for someone who has been awarded refugee status in the UK on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics to join our board.
We are aware of the BBC’s investigation into individuals allegedly helping people fabricate LGBTQI+ asylum claims. Read the full statement on our website:
A photo of two femme people of colour in their late 20s or early 30s looking at a phone.
White text on an orange gradient background: "A space to learn more about LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum with thought-provoking articles sent directly to you. Think of it like a magazine that appears out-of-the-blue, roughly once a month, with 1 great article for you to read. Subscribe now via the link in bio."
We've started a Substack. 🎉 It will be a space to learn more about LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum with interesting and thought-provoking written articles sent directly to you.
You can subscribe now, for free: buff.ly/a3PqtGR
Join us to collectively make a fabric banner calling for #NoPrideInDetention and find out more about our campaign to #EndLGBTQIDetention
Find us at Rhythms of Resistance - an arts and music festival in Bristol on 16 May organised by Groovin4Good and Snapshot. Tickets via buff.ly/9mrnaqj
Final reminder before the deadline on Monday 13 April 🏳️🌈
Photo of a pride flag sticking out of someone's backpack with the words "queer & proud" handwritten on it.
🎉We have fantastic news - an LGBTQI+ person from Iran who we supported has been granted refugee status in the UK! 🏳️🌈
💖We are very happy for them, and wish them all the best in this next chapter.
#GoodNews #GoodNewsFriday #LGBT
A photo of two people standing in front on some fir trees: on the left, a black woman with her afro wearing a pink jumpsuit and on the right, a person of colour with short bleached curly hair smiling at each other.
We’ve joined easyfundraising! You can now raise free donations for Rainbow Migration when you shop online with 8,000 brands.
🛍️ All you need to do is sign up, choose Rainbow Migration as your cause, and when you shop online, we receive a donation - at no extra cost to you: buff.ly/UkuhW8g
Thanks🩷
We are looking for someone who has been awarded refugee status in the UK on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics to join our board.
The deadline for applications is 9.30 am on Friday 1 May. Find out how on our website buff.ly/o7pYrkj
(3) Asexuality remains one of the queer identities that is least represented in media. Asexuality representation in pop culture includes Todd Chavez from BoJack Horseman, O from Sex Education, Ca$h from Heartbreak High, and Isaac from Heartstopper.
(2) As early as the 1800s, experts wrote about having a lack of sexual desire, or asexuality, using other names, such as sexual anesthesia, and in 1972, feminist Lisa Orlando wrote “The Asexual Manifesto”.
(1) Asexuality is a spectrum. This means that some people experience mild sexual attraction, like greysexual people, and people who only experience sexual attraction to those they develop a close relationship with, like demisexual people.
Photo of asexual pride flag being waved outdoors
Happy #InternationalAsexualityDay!
This is a day for celebration, advocacy, education and solidarity with everyone who falls under the ace umbrella in the #LGBTQIA community around the world.
3 fun facts...
Back of the head and torso of a man from Sri Lanka. He is outside in a city, wearing a blue and white t-shirt.
White writing on a blue gradient background: "I want to take a moment thanks everyone at Rainbow Migration for everything you have done for me from providing valuable legal advice to connecting me with other LGBT charities”
🎉We have fantastic news - a gay man from Sri Lanka who we supported has been granted refugee status in the UK! 🏳️🌈
💖We are very happy for him, and wish him all the best in this next chapter.
#GoodNews #GoodNewsFriday #LGBT
Photo of large trans pride flag at a march on a busy street in London
On Saturday, we were proud to join half a million people in London for the largest march against the far-right in British history! 🫶
We showed that hope is stronger than fear, and that most people in the UK are welcoming and compassionate.
Photo of two people smiling at the camera with words saying 'Join our team!'
White text on blue background: Contract: 3-Year Fixed-term 1 July 2026 until 30 June 2029 Hours: Full-time or part-time Salary: Starting at £27,011 FTE (pro rata) Location: Our step-free offices in London and from home Closing date: 9am on Monday 13 April 2026
Would you like to join our team? Apply by 9am on Monday 13 April.
We are recruiting a Legal Assistant who will support the delivery of Rainbow Migration’s legal service by providing additional administrative capacity.
Find out more and apply via our website: buff.ly/pp4bC3x
🏳️⚧️ International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) was founded in 2009 and is celebrated every year on March 31. It is a day to celebrate trans and non-binary people, and to raise awareness of the discrimination faced by the community worldwide.
Read more on our website: buff.ly/sWU66zj
A photo of a man looking away from the camera into the distance. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and sunglasses, and had dark brown hair. A city skyline is blurry in the background.
🎉We have fantastic news - a gay man from Azerbaijan who we supported has been granted refugee status in the UK! 🏳️🌈
💖We are very happy for him, and wish him all the best in this next chapter.
#GoodNews #GoodNewsFriday #LGBT
🏳️🌈 Thank you so much to Sam Habib, Savitri Hensman, Leila Zadeh, and Tia Kofi for their generous and insightful conversation at our panel event last Saturday. We gathered at Queer Britain to discuss the complexities of being a queer migrant or asylum seeker.
Thank you to everyone who joined 🌟
A Pakistani man wearing a short-sleeved flowery shirt. Text reads “It was very frustrating having to prove my sexuality. In the final interview, the immigration officer asked my why it’s important for me to live as gay. I asked her why it’s important for her or anyone else to live as straight.”
Murtaza* shared his story with us last year. Read it in full on our website: buff.ly/jQS9cMR He's a former service user and gay man from Pakistan. He spoke to us about his and his partners' experiences of claiming asylum in the UK.
*Name changed to protect the identity of the interviewee
🎉We have fantastic news - a lesbian from East Africa who we supported, through our women's support group and asylum advice session, has been granted refugee status in the UK! 🏳️🌈
💖We are very happy for her, and wish her all the best in this next chapter.
#GoodNews #GoodNewsFriday #LGBT
Photo of crowd at pride with Sam at the centre. Text reads: Like many other LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum, Sam found the process of claiming asylum and waiting for decisions difficult and emotionally intense...
Like many other people seeking asylum Sam found the process of claiming asylum and waiting for decisions difficult and emotionally intense.
🏳️🌈 In our latest blog Sam shares what worked for him whilst claiming asylum as a LGBTQI+ person. Read now on our website: buff.ly/M2Quu8Z
A photo of a South-American trans women with long straight hair looking at the camera and standing amongst trees. Blue gradient background with white writing 'Are you LGBTQI+ and in the UK seeking asylum?'
We run a range of support services through advocacy and signposting, with the aim to ensure those seeking asylum have access to health services, safe housing, emotional support and do not become socially isolated.
To get in touch, please fill out the contact form buff.ly/xy8r5tQ, or email us.
🎉We have fantastic news - a lesbian from Morocco who we supported has been granted refugee status in the UK! 🏳️🌈
💖We are very happy for her, and wish her all the best in this next chapter.
#GoodNews #GoodNewsFriday #LGBT
Photo of a two black women, one young and one middle-aged, amongst a crowd shouting. Title reads 'Did you know about these 4 issues that LGBTQI+ women seeking asylum face?' in white on a pink gradient background.
We’d like to shine a light on some of the additional challenges that LGBTQI+ women face when going through the asylum system. In our new blog post we explore 4 of the issues that queer women face, read more on our website now: buff.ly/gxpf2Bs
#WomensHistoryMonth #TransInclusiveFeminism
Photo of a woman stood outside and holding hand-painted placard with a bird and the words 'set her free'. The title below reads 'Unnecessary and cruel: end the detention of women in the UK' in white writing on a pink and black background.
Photograph of handmade red kite-like banner that says 'kindness not cruelty' outside in the snow. Text reads: Many of the women locked up in UK detention centres are survivors of gender-based violence, and most experience severe mental health issues due to being detained.
Photo of a black woman in front of some metal fencing. Text reads: “It’s so hard not knowing how long you’ll be there, because being in detention is the worst place you can be. It is a shock, and everyone detained is struggling. It’s a very bad place to be a woman.” Manono, a lesbian woman formerly detained in Yarl’s Wood
"2,378 women entered detention in the UK during 2025, but there were never more than 146 women detained at the one time. Given how low these numbers are, the Home Office could formally end the detention of women immediately. This would be an important step towards abolishing immigration detention, and the immense harm that it inflicts."
Like LGBTQ+ people, women have a uniquely bad experience of detention.
buff.ly/mA7HoTi Our latest blog post explores the harms and pointlessness of women’s detention.
#NoPrideInDetention #EndLGBTQIDetention
A photograph of two young black women smiling and wearing colourful clothes. Text overlaid reads: “The very things that once isolated and endangered me, my identity and my truth are now sources of connection and strength." and 'International Women's Day 2026'
White text on a blue background with a photo of a progress pride flag at the bottom. “Most people who join our group have not previously had a space where they can be openly queer and talk about their sexuality. Our women's support group is one of the very few spaces specifically for queer women and non-binary people who are seeking asylum, where those experiences are shared and implicitly understood.” Our Women’s Support Group coordinator
White text on a blue background and the Rainbow Migration logo in white. International Women’s Day started in the early 1900’s as a protest by marginalised and working-class women against imperialism, colonialism and capitalism. We remember this history as we centre the stories and voices of queer women seeking asylum today."
Happy International Women's Day 2026!
Read our blog now buff.ly/xvBLiQO about the safe space that we provide to LGBTQI+ women going through the asylum system.
#InternationalWomensDay #TransInclusiveFeminism
We know there is real need for safe routes. Unfortunately previous announcements have revealed schemes too limited in size to meet need. We therefore await more information on the newly announced schemes and what they amount to in practice.
