Category: Queer Diaspora Ireland: News

Queer Diaspora is now part of the European Network Against Racism

We are so proud and happy to become a part of European Network Against Racism ENAR Ireland and will put all our efforts to end racism and all forms of systemic discrimination!

We are delighted to welcome aboard our new Member, Queer Diaspora Ireland, a project that aims to provide information about all the organisations and initiatives that work with asylum seekers, refugees and/or LGBTI individuals. Queer Diaspora Ireland seeks to facilitate the creation of an intersectional community where everyone feels welcome, protected and engaged in local organising. Check out their FB page by clicking the above link or find out more about their work here: http://queerdiaspora.com/

Learning Exchange Held to Discuss Helping LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers

Outhouse was the location for a meeting of organisations, groups and activists involved in helping those seeking asylum across Europe.

Following on from the launch of the report Far from Home: Life as an LGBT Migrant in Ireland, the learning exchange was organised by the NXF, LGBT Ireland, Queer Diaspora and Outhouse.

The day was divided into two sections; the first a conversation between the attendees of the problems and issues that arise for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, and possible ways to address them. The second was an introduction and discussion by representatives of support groups and activists from across Europe who spoke about their own modes of practice and both the unique and universal problems in battling bureaucracy.

Read about the event on GCN here.

Irish Activists Protest Chechnya LGBT+ Human Rights Abuses

The LGBT+ community and their allies gathered to protest the ‘gay purge’ currently taking place in Chechnya.

The group gathered included representatives from GCN, LGBT Ireland, Dublin Pride, USI, TENI, Amnesty International, ACT UP, Queer Diaspora Ireland and Free Legal Advice Centres, Senator Fintan Warfield and concerned members and friends of the LGBT+ community.

The Irish LGBT+ community stands in solidarity with our LGBT+ family in Chechnya.

We condemn the escalating violence against LGBT+ people and urge An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to publicly condemn the anti-LGBT+ crackdown.
The Irish Government must raise this issue at the highest possible level with Russian leaders and call for an immediate end to this harrowing persecution.
The Irish government needs to live up to its international protection obligations to recognise and protect Chechen refugees who reach Ireland, as well as using its full consular influence, facilities and resources to support The Russian LGBT+ Network in its vital work in Russia and the region at this time in affording safe options to those at risk.  
We call for the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic

Statement signed by Irish LGBT+ organisations from across the country

Read about the event here.

Queer Diaspora speaks at the Science Gallery

NXF Launch LGBT Migrants Report

Some experts from Evgeny section:

“Imagine that you are living here all the time, 24/7 in this stage. Observed by a lot of people, some of them don’t like you, some of them are okay with you and some of them are friends with you.

“You have this feeling of a constant panopticon of being constantly observed.”

Although Evgeny initially wanted to see the creation of LGBT+ safe spaces within Direct Provision, living in the system has shown him that this is not the solution.

“It’s not about LGBT, it’s not about us, it’s about the whole society.

“It’s about a very severe, it’s not even hostile, it’s a severe phenomenon of very very vulnerable people who are forced to live in an absolutely inhumane situation.

“I didn’t ask for this, I asked for international protection for my human rights.

“It’s absolutely bad for society because being inside as a social anthropologist I see people who are cultivating frustration which will transform into hate in the future.

“They won’t forgive because I see people who are spending seven years there. Imagine seven years here (on the stage). It’s something that cant be easily forgotten even if you’ve got papers.

“The most difficult thing is this uncertainty that people are living in because there are no criteria for how your case will be developed. There is no clear understanding of what is the stage.”

See full report by National LGBT Federation: “Far From Home: Life as an LGBT Migrant” here.