Dublin LGBTQI+ Refugees/Asylum Seekers conference
EROSS (Expressions, Research, Orientations: Sexuality Studies) at Dublin City University, Ireland, is hosting a series of different conferences focusing on the experiences of working with, and of being an LGBTQI+ Asylum Seeker or Refugee, at the intersection of Sexuality Studies and Migration Studies.
What is at stake when endeavouring to save lives, protect rights and build a better future for LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless? What are the experiences of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees?
The persecution of people because of their sexual orientation and gender identity is not a new phenomenon. It is only in more recent years that a growing number of asylum claims have been made by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals.
This has necessitated greater awareness among decision-makers of the specific experiences of LGBTQI+ asylum-seekers and refugees, and a deeper examination of the cultural, ethical, medical or legal questions involved. The effect of such scrutiny, and its impact on their identity and voices needs further investigation.
EROSS at DCU, in order to address some of these issues, is hosting a series of international conferences, in different countries.
At the end of 2019, there were approximately 4.2 million people around the world waiting for a decision on their asylum claims (UNHCR).
Amongst them is a particularly vulnerable group: LGBTQI+ people: sons, daughters, parents, partners and lovers, with horrendous histories of imprisonment, bodily harm, torture, and psychological trauma.These atrocities are inflicted on them by their own governments, countrymen, and, worst of all, friends and families.
Hosted by EROSS @ DCU, the Dublin LGBTQI+ Refugees/Asylum Seekers conference will take place online on Friday April 9th & Saturday April 10th 2021.
This conference aims to discuss the situation of LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees who have committed no crime, yet cannot live freely in their own countries due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
This is a non-profit event. Additional conference monies raised will be donated to a registered charity to be announced soon.
For more information, visit the website of the conference