Call for participants: LGBT religious refugees and asylum seekers in the UK
About Diego
Diego Garcia is a gay Spanish researcher with an expertise in gender, sexuality and religion. He conducted extensive fieldwork among LGBT+ Muslims in Indonesia for his PhD in Gender and Sexuality Studies at University College London, and is currently a Leverhulme-funded Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham exploring the everyday experiences of LGBT+ religious refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Diego's research also encompasses amplifying the voices of their allies, providing crucial insights into the challenges and triumphs of this community.
Summary of project
Diego is studying the experiences of LGBT religious refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. These individuals face challenges due to their religious beliefs as well as what are often referred to as non-normative genders and sexualities. Many people assume that religious and LGBT identities cannot be combined, but this study aims to challenge these assumptions. Diego aims to explore how religion can actually promote queer liberation, and understand how UK-based LGBT refugees and asylum seekers incorporate their religious beliefs, faith, and spirituality into their daily lives.
The research holds significant importance as it sheds light on a prevalent issue faced by numerous LGBT asylum seekers whose claims have been unjustly rejected solely due to their religious beliefs. This is because religion is often perceived to be as sexually restrictive in the West, and it is often assumed by the Home Office that ‘authentic’ LGBT people cannot be religious. However, many LGBT individuals do practice a religion and find comfort in their faith. Considering this, the study also aims to explore how the UK's Home Office handles asylum claims from LGBT refugees and asylum seekers, and whether religion and spirituality play a role in their decision-making processes. The ultimate goal is to maximise impact through the findings and provide recommendations targeting the UK Government by working in solidarity with NGOs, CSOs, LGBT refugees and asylum seekers and other relevant stakeholders.
Next steps
If you want to get in touch with Diego, his e-mail address is diego.garciarodriguez@nottingham.ac.uk, and his phone number is 07923232006.
