“Under the European Asylum Rainbow: Intersectional Queer Challenges” on July 4th

This conference aims to bring together LGBTQI+ refugees and people seeking asylum, NGO workers, activists, decision- and policy-makers, lawyers, researchers, students and other interested parties to discuss the current situation of LGBTQI+ refugees in Germany and across Europe, and to stimulate the exchange of knowledge and experience. Taking a comparative, queer and intersectional perspective, the conference will explore what the current needs and challenges are for LGBTQ+ refugees (and support groups), what we can learn from ‘good’ and ‘bad’ practice and what political changes need to be made. The conference will have an interactive format, consisting of individual presentations, podium discussions and moderated theme tables.

The conference is organized by SOGICA (University of Sussex) in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Uta Ruppert and the Cornelia Goethe Center for Women and Gender Studies at the Goethe University Frankfurt, and in collaboration with Rainbow Refugees Frankfurt, Hessischer Flüchtlingsrat, LeTRa München, Kölner Flüchtlingsrat and the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group.

Registration for the event is free and some travel bursaries are available for LGBTQI+ refugees and people seeking asylum (for travel within Germany).

Programme

9.30 – 9.45	Registration
9.45 – 10.00	Professor Uta Ruppert – Süd-Süd- und Geschlechterforschung am FB03/ Cornelia Goethe Centrum, Goethe University Frankfurt, Welcome
10.00 – 10.20	Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn – Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, first UN Independent Expert on Violence and Discrimination based on SOGI, LGBTIQ* Refugee Rights under the Geneva Refugee Convention
10.20 – 10.40	Professor Nuno Ferreira and Dr. Moira Dustin – SOGICA, University of Sussex, LGBTIQ* Asylum in Europe
10.40 – 11.00	Coffee and Tea
11.00 – 11.20	Bojana Asanovic – UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group, LGBTIQ* Asylum in the United Kingdom: Developments over the Past Decade
11.20 – 11.40	Marlen Vahle – Kölner Flüchtlingsrat, LGBTIQ* Refugees’ Experiences with the BAMF Asylum Interview
11.40 – 13.00	Podium Discussion on Intersectionality: Irene Bulungi – Black Lesbian Refugees Dr. Harpreet Cholia – Hessischer Flüchtlingsrat Edward Mutebi – Rainbow Refugees Munich Kadir Özdemir – Nvbf QLM – Queeres Leben in der Migrationsgesellschaft Lilith Raza – Queer Refugees Germany/LSVD Dr. Mengia Tschalaer – Queer Muslim Asylum in Germany Moderator: Dr. Nina Held – SOGICA
13.00 – 13.45	Lunch
13.45 – 14.00	Singing by Mahdi
14.00 – 15.30	Moderated Theme Tables on various topics: 1. “Traversing between invisibilities and sensibilities” (Harpreet Cholia and Sofian) 2. “Legal representation and appeals in court” (Knud Wechterstein) 3. “Support and Preparation before the Asylum Interview” (Marlen Vahle) 4. “The ‘Special Vulnerability’’ of Queer Refugees: Political Challenges” (Mohammad Dalla) 5. “The Importance of Empowerment & Self Representations of LGBTIQ* Refugees” (Kadir Özdemir) 6. “Challenges for intersexual and transgender asylum claimants” (Christel Baltes-Loehr) 7. “Support needs for lesbian and bisexual women” (Julia Serdarov, Sara Schmitter and Elceta Marsha Ennis) 8. “Self-defence as an empowerment tool” (Heghine Babayan) 9. “Accommodation and social isolation” (Danijel Cubelic) 10. “Understandings of sexuality and gender in the Asylum Process” (Jana Burosko)
15.30 – 15.45	Coffee and Tea
15.45 – 17.00	Podium Discussion on Comparative Approaches: Danijel Cubelic – Stadt Heidelberg Dr. Carmelo Danisi – SOGICA Elceta Marsha Ennis Dr. Amit-Elias Marcus – Aidshilfe Düsseldorf Barry O’Leary – Wesley Gryk Solicitors LLP Bella Stevens – ORAM Moderator: Anbid Zaman – SOGICA Advisory Board
17.00 – 17.30	Closing with Dance Performance by Prince Emrah