It’s Bisexual Visibility Week! This is an annual celebration held every September, which promotes cultural acceptance of the bisexual community while creating a platform for advocating for bisexual rights. Bisexual Visibility Week and Awareness Day also aim to combat bi-erasure and biphobia, both of which negatively impact the LGBTQI community and work against a greater understanding and acceptance of bisexual identities.
Do bisexual people seek asylum?
Yes, bisexual people around the world are persecuted and come to the UK to find safety. Micro Rainbow supports 106 bisexual people who have been forced to flee their countries because of persecution. Like lesbian, gay and trans people, bisexual people face abuse, harassment and violence in the 60+ countries around the world where LGBTQI people are criminalised. Bisexual people commonly are not explicitly mentioned in anti-LGBT laws, however, like other LGBTQI identities, bisexual people face discrimination and violence, and flee their home countries to find safety.
Anti LGBT laws
The 106 bisexual people that Micro Rainbow currently support hail from 36 different countries around the world. 66 are men, 31 are women, five are trans and four are nonbinary. The most heavily represented country is Nigeria, with 15 people, followed by Namibia with 9 people and Pakistan with 8 people seeking protection in the UK.
Of those 36 countries, 28 have laws explicitly criminalising LGBTQI people and same sex sexual activity. For seven of those countries, the maximum punishment meted out is the death penalty (in red). Five more impose a life sentence as the maximum punishment (lighter red colour), and sixteen more have prison terms varying between one year and twenty years (yellow) and whipping (Malaysia).
While there are eight countries that do not have explicit laws criminalising LGBTQI people, (India, St Lucia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Turkey and Ukraine), persecution and harassment means that LGBTQI people are marginalised societally and economically, and are unable to live in safety.
Lesbian and gay people seeking asylum
Since the 1980s, the narrative of the gay asylum seeker has been widely accepted and understood, but that narrative generally only includes gay and identities. However, being bisexual can still be considered an invalid reason for seeking protection. Bi-erasure in lesbian and gay spaces, as well in society generally has contributed to this, and creates an environment where the experiences and stories of bisexual asylum seekers can more easily be discounted.
Common ‘bi-negative’ beliefs that persist are that bisexuality is ‘just a phase’, and not a valid and recognised sexual orientation. It is also common to suggest that it is ‘easier’ for bisexual asylum seekers to hide their sexual orientation, and therefore they can live safely in their home countries. Previous relationships or marriages with the opposite sex, and having had children, can also count against you.
Biphobia in the asylum system
It is especially important for Micro Rainbow to mark this week, because biphobia and bi-erasure also pervade the asylum system, negatively impacting the outcomes of bisexual people in our community. Bisexual asylum seekers and refugees often face unique challenges: erasure, double discrimination, and the myth that their identity isn’t “valid enough” for protection.
This was compounded by the longstanding ‘discretion requirement’ that allowed the Home Office to deny claimants asylum on the assumption that they could reasonably conceal their sexual orientation. Until this was overturned (in 2010) it was common to suggest that bisexual asylum seekers hide their sexual orientation or only date people of the opposite sex in order to be able to live safely in their home countries.
Support Micro Rainbow’s community
Take one concrete action this Bisexual Visibility Week by making a commitment to Micro Rainbow’s community by becoming an ally today! Allies give every month and help provide essential items for people living in our housing, and support our community to attend social inclusion and employability events.
