Mary, a Ugandan LGBTQ+ individual, fled her country to escape homophobic persecution. However, she found little solace in the UK, as anti-refugee sentiment is rising, leaving her and other refugees feeling unwelcome and unworthy. Mary’s own mother threatened to turn her over to the police for being gay, leading her to flee the country rather than face imprisonment or death.
Uganda is notoriously hostile towards LGBTQ+ individuals, with politicians regularly attempting to strengthen anti-gay laws to eradicate homosexuality in the country. However, public attitudes are equally unkind, and violent attacks are common. Mary felt that her only option was to leave Uganda, so she travelled to the UK on a visa and sought asylum.
However, the UK government’s repeated attempts to clamp down on the number of asylum seekers allowed into the country, along with rising anti-refugee sentiment among the public, has made Mary’s new home less welcoming than she had hoped. She says, “It makes you feel like you can never find a place where you can just rest because you’ll be tossed and pushed around everywhere.” Mary’s story is not unique, as asylum seekers across the UK face increasing hostility.
Sebastian Rocca, CEO of LGBTQ+ asylum charity Micro Rainbow, notes that seeking asylum in the UK is often the only lifeline for people like Mary, and the government must show compassion and treat refugees and asylum seekers with dignity. “They could start not only by creating safe routes for people to reach safety in the UK but also by changing the narrative around asylum, by encouraging compassion over hate.”
As the UK government continues to debate the future of asylum seekers in the country, it is vital to remember that refugees are humans, worthy of compassion and respect. They should not be treated as mere numbers or threats, but rather as people seeking safety and a better life.