As detailed in the previous chapter, homo/transphobia remains widespread on the African continent, prompting significant numbers of LGBT persons to flee their countries of origin. Some attempt to access states in the Global North via various migration pathways, such as study or work permits, national asylum systems, or the resettlement programme operated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, the deliberate erosion of international protection mechanisms, often enacted in parallel with the securitisation and externalisation of borders, places these options firmly out of reach for most people. The result is growing numbers of LGBT persons being forced to remain on the continent. In turn, visible LGBT migrant populations are beginning to emerge, including recognised hubs in Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal and South Africa. While these countries may provide LGBT migrants with distance from hostile families, communities and/or governments, and in some cases even act as sites of belonging and connection, they rarely offer safety and stability. For example, in Kenya, which boasts one of the continent’s largest LGBT migrant communities, those seeking protection are routinely mistreated and abused, even after the UNHCR enacted special measures to safeguard those deemed especially vulnerable.

LGBT migrants encounter the same challenges as other groups on the move, but they also face unique obstacles that reveal the limitations of existing protection systems. One of the most obvious difficulties that LGBT asylum seekers face is ‘proving’ their experiences in ways that sufficiently corroborate their claims. Very few individuals are likely to have documentary evidence, such as photos or letters, as such items can intensify the risk of victimisation. LGBT asylum seekers can also struggle to articulate their histories and identities in ways that align with the Western ontological categories used to assess the veracity of their narratives. This may be because they are unfamiliar with dominant terminology; because they have spent years concealing their identities out of fear, shame or guilt; or because they are suffering from trauma and related mental health issues. All of these factors make it difficult for LGBT asylum claimants to verbalise their lived experiences to state bureaucrats and humanitarian workers, especially if these individuals are inadequately trained or exhibit the same prejudices as the wider community.