Advocacy and empowerment: Group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers.

Abstract

In countries worldwide, LGBT individuals are subject to persecution and discrimination, including grave human rights violations based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Asylum provides a mechanism for LGBT individuals fleeing such persecution to legally remain in the United States. However, asylum is not guaranteed, and the asylum-seeking process may be particularly challenging for individuals with complex trauma histories. Although many LGBT asylum seekers are referred to individual psychotherapy by their legal counsel to prepare for the asylum process and to mitigate risks for retraumatization, many decline due to fear, shame, and cultural barriers, among other factors. Thus, we offer a model of group therapy forLGBT asylum seekers, rooted in multicultural and empowerment frameworks, which aims to address the unique concerns and challenges faced by LGBT asylum seekers. These include recovery from the effects of complex trauma, managing the stress of immigration and acculturation, minimizing the risk for retraumatization which may occur during the asylum-seeking process, and overcoming cultural obstacles to individual psychotherapy. We review and integrate empirical and theoretical literature on the mental health of immigrants and asylum seekers, LGBT mental health, and group therapy for trauma, LGBT individuals, and asylum seekers to offer theoretical support for the value of group therapy for LGBT asylum seekers. Research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these group interventions. We offer recommendations for research along with suggestions for addressing the practical challenges encountered in working with LGBT asylum seekers.

Cast Out: “Gender Role Outlaws” Seeking Asylum in the West and the Quest for Social Connections

“…This finding echoes those of Reading and Rubin (2011), suggesting that shame, fear, and religious and cultural barriers may prevent Muslim LGBT asylum seekers from seeking services.…”

“…Furthermore, organizations may seek to mitigate the social isolation of gender role nonconforming asylum seekers through group therapy programs (e.g., Reading & Rubin, 2011), and more informal programs that promote socialization opportunities. Groups specifically serving the LGBT communityat-large, however, should be aware that some gay asylum seekers from Islamic societies may be reluctant to attend explicitly "gay" organizations because of discomfort with more visible expressions of homosexuality and/or fear of "outing" themselves by affiliation.…”

Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry and Homosexuality

“…Homosexual men and women across the world live under varying levels of social marginalization and intolerance that lead to varying levels of aggression against them (Hadler, 2012;Reading and Rubin, 2011;Meyer, 2013;Sue, 2010). Western countries have the lowest levels of gross aggression toward homosexual men and women and greater tolerance (Hadler, 2012;Reading and Rubin, 2011).…”

“…(CCMD-3) (Lee, 2001;Wu, 2003). However, homosexuality has been categorized as a mental disorder in the recent past, and presently across the world it is viewed with varying levels of intolerance that too often leads to harassment and persecution (Hadler, 2012;Reading and Rubin, 2011). However, homosexuality has been categorized as a mental disorder in the recent past, and presently across the world it is viewed with varying levels of intolerance that too often leads to harassment and persecution (Hadler, 2012;Reading and Rubin, 2011).…”

Impact of stigma and discrimination on sexual wellbeing of LGBTI students in a South African rural university

“…While South Africa's Constitution of 1996 was the first in the world to include provisions for non-discrimination against people based on sexual orientation, LGBTI individuals in South Africa continue to face hostility and violence. Such reactions towards this population indicate a disparity or gap between the ideals of the Constitution, which calls for non-discrimination and equality for all people who live in South Africa (Human Rights Watch 2011;Reading and Rubin 2011).…”