Rainbow Migration

22/04/2026

⭐️3 facts about LGBQTI+ asylum in the UK🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Sources:
1 - https://www.ein.org.uk/news/jo-wilding-continues-chronicle-growing-deficit-immigration-and-asylum-legal-aid-calls & https://justice-together.org.uk/articles/no-access-to-justice-2/
2 - https://database.ilga.org/criminalisation-consensual-same-s*x-s*xual-acts
3 - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-june-2024/asylum-claims-on-the-basis-of-s*xual-orientation-2023

20/04/2026

Today marks the start of and we wanted to share these words from Olu.🏳️‍🌈❣️

We are happy to say that Olu was granted refugee status in 2024. Upon telling us her good news, she quoted Laurel Hubbard, the first openly trans woman to compete at the Olympic Games.

“There are moments of high mood, there are moments of low mood, there are moments of injury, there are moments of progress, there are moments of stagnation. All we can do is to keep on pushing.”

You can read her story here: https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/stories/olus-story/

17/04/2026

As 100+ organisations supporting and advocating for migrants and refugees, LGBTQI+ people, and survivors of domestic abuse and gender-based violence, we are appalled at the quality of reporting from the BBC in its recent investigation, which has amplified a small number of bad-faith actors offering fraudulent immigration and asylum advice.

This reporting risks causing real harm to communities that are already systemically marginalised, and whose lives are being made harder by the rise in racist far-right rhetoric and increasingly harsh anti-migrant policies by successive governments.

Read our joint statement and see the full list of signatories: https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/news/we-stand-united-against-harmful-bbc-reporting-that-targets-already-marginalised-communities

16/04/2026

⭐️Webinar tomorrow: sign up now!⭐️

If you would like to find out more before applying to join our board of trustees, you can attend a webinar on Friday 17 April 2026 from 1-2pm: https://forms.office.com/e/1PLaB603Gv

We are looking for someone who has been awarded refugee status in the UK on the basis of their s*xual orientation, gender identity or expression, or s*x characteristics to join our board. Being a trustee is a rewarding role. We are looking for someone to join the trustee board who is passionate about both:

➡️Our vision that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives

➡️Our mission to support LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system and influence policy and practice.

The deadline for applications is 9.30 am on Friday 1 May. Find out how on our website: https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/news/become-a-trustee/

15/04/2026

We are aware of the BBC’s investigation into individuals allegedly helping people fabricate LGBTQI+ asylum claims. Any advice to misuse the asylum system should be condemned, but such behaviour by a small number of bad-faith actors does not reflect the reality of LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum.

Every day we work with LGBTQI+ people who have fled life-threatening situations and are hoping to rebuild their lives in safety here. For many, claiming asylum can be their only way to escape persecution.

Read the full statement on our website:

Almost 70 countries criminalise same-s*x relations, some with the death penalty. The UK government itself recognises that in Pakistan consensual same-s*x

15/04/2026

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: https://rainbowmigration.substack.com/

Think of it like a magazine that appears out-of-the-blue, roughly once a month, with 1 great article for you to read.

There are 3 examples live already to give you a taster of what you can expect.

13/04/2026

Support our No Pride in Detention campaign during an event celebrating q***r joy, creativity, and connection. Rhythms of Resistance is an arts and music festival in Bristol on 16 May organised by Groovin4Good and Snapshot.

Join us to collectively make a fabric banner calling for and find out more about our campaign to

Tickets via https://www.headfirstbristol.co.uk/whats-on/the-pickle-factory/sat-16-may--rhythms-of-resistance-a-groovin4good-and-snapshot-festival-151036

10/04/2026

🎉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.

09/04/2026

We’ve joined ! 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. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/rainbow-migration/

Thanks to your support we can make a real difference to the lives of LGBTQI+ people seeking sanctuary.⁠🩷

08/04/2026

We are looking for someone who has been awarded refugee status in the UK on the basis of their s*xual orientation, gender identity or expression, or s*x characteristics to join our board. Being a trustee is a rewarding role. We are looking for someone to join the trustee board who is passionate about both: ⁠
⁠
⭐Our vision that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives ⁠
⁠
⭐Our mission to support LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system and influence policy and practice. ⁠
⁠
The deadline for applications is 9.30 am on Friday 1 May. Find out how on our website https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/news/become-a-trustee/
⁠
If you would like to find out more before applying, you can attend a webinar on Friday 17 April 2026 from 1-2pm.

08/04/2026

We are looking for someone who has been awarded refugee status in the UK on the basis of their s*xual orientation, gender identity or expression, or s*x characteristics to join our board. Being a trustee is a rewarding role. We are looking for someone to join the trustee board who is passionate about both:

⭐Our vision that LGBTQI+ people can settle in the UK and lead fulfilling lives

⭐Our mission to support LGBTQI+ people through the asylum and immigration system and influence policy and practice.

The deadline for applications is 9.30 am on Friday 1 May. Find out how on our website: https://www.rainbowmigration.org.uk/news/become-a-trustee/

If you would like to find out more before applying, you can attend a webinar on Friday 17 April 2026 from 1-2pm.

06/04/2026

Happy *xualityDay!⁠

This is a day for celebration, advocacy, education and solidarity with everyone who falls under the ace umbrella in the community around the world.⁠

3 fun facts:

(1) As*xuality is a spectrum. This means that some people experience mild s*xual attraction, like greys*xual people, and people who only experience s*xual attraction to those they develop a close relationship with, like demis*xual people.

(2) As early as the 1800s, experts wrote about having a lack of s*xual desire, or as*xuality, using other names, such as s*xual anesthesia, and in 1972, feminist Lisa Orlando wrote “The As*xual Manifesto”.

(3) As*xuality remains one of the q***r identities that is least represented in media. As*xuality representation in pop culture includes Todd Chavez from BoJack Horseman, O from S*x Education, Ca$h from Heartbreak High, and Isaac from Heartstopper.