Claiming asylum in the UK as a young gay man
Omar spent most of his 20s waiting for refugee status because of the backlog. This is his story.
15 December 2023
Housing
Providing safe temporary housing for LGBTQI asylum seekers in the UK
countries criminalise homosexuality
LGB people have claimed asylum in the UK since 2015 (The Home Office)
the number of bed nights provided by Micro Rainbow every year
Why we run safe houses dedicated solely to LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
In 64 countries homosexuality is illegal. 1,500 LGBTQI asylum seekers from those countries come to the UK every year.
When they come to the UK they are still not safe. Because of their sexuality, gender identity, gender expression or intersex status they often:
- are abused in asylum seeker accommodation by other people seeking asylum who often come from the same countries they are escaping from
- become homeless and depressed
- are rejected by their ethnic community and live in poverty
What we are doing to help LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Micro Rainbow opened the first safe house in the United Kingdom dedicated solely to LGBTQI asylum seekers. Our houses provide a safe and temporary shelter for all LGBTQI asylum seekers. They are located in the London area, in the North West and in the West Midlands.
We also provide moving on services as well as various social inclusion programmes.
Awards
In recognition of Micro Rainbow’s safe housing we were winners of the following awards:
Credit: Thomson Reuters Foundation News
The story of Micro Rainbow's housing programme
We opened our first safe house for LGBTQI asylum seekers in 2017 - read on to find out why we started and why it is so important.
Other services for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Success stories
Developing routines for self-care as an asylum seeker
Joe, an asylum seeker living in our housing speaks about the importance of self-care, his routine, and tips for others to develop their own self-care practice.
6 October 2022
Eric’s Story
Eric knew that if he stayed in the DRC, he would either kill himself or be killed. So, he made the heart-breaking decision to leave behind everything he knew – his loved ones, his career and his identity – to begin a new life in the UK.
11 January 2022
What you can do to help
Latest updates
Help us get our 25th safe house ready!
We’ve secured our 25th safe house for LGBTQI people fleeing persecution – can you help us get it ready?
3 December 2024
Refugee Week 2024
The theme of 2024’s Refugee Week is ‘Our Home’. Read about home-making as a refugee in this piece.
17 June 2024
The safe house was a blessing for me: John’s story
Read John’s story about living in Micro Rainbow safe housing and how it helped him thrive.
15 April 2024
Claiming asylum in the UK as a young gay man
Omar spent most of his 20s waiting for refugee status because of the backlog. This is his story.
15 December 2023
Help us get 10 housing packs ready
This winter, help us get 10 housing packs ready for LGBTQI asylum seekers moving into our safe houses!
28 November 2023
National Coming Out Day 2023
This National Coming Out Day, we explore the harsh reality of ‘coming out’ or ‘being outed’ for our community.
9 October 2023
From empty shell to Micro Rainbow safe house
Ever wanted to learn more about the process of finding, renovating and opening a safe house?
16 June 2023
The story of our safe housing programme
Micro Rainbow’s safe housing programme is over 5 years old. Learn how it all started, and where we are now.
8 June 2023
Lesbian Visibility Week
For Lesbian Visibility Week 2023 we spoke to Grace, a lesbian from Cameroon living in a Micro Rainbow safe house.
24 April 2023
Alternatives to detention: Chege’s story
There is an alternative to detention for LGBTQI migrants – read Chege’s story in this new piece.
15 March 2023
Cost of living campaign
Become an ally today to help Micro Rainbow support LGBTQI refugees through the cost of living crisis.
21 November 2022
Immigration Advice for Rough Sleepers Fund – report launched
We were funded by the IARSF to work with LGBTQI rough sleepers in London, and the funding also enabled the training of a staff member as an OISC accredited Level 1 adviser.
10 October 2022
Developing routines for self-care as an asylum seeker
Joe, an asylum seeker living in our housing speaks about the importance of self-care, his routine, and tips for others to develop their own self-care practice.
6 October 2022
Eric’s Story
Eric knew that if he stayed in the DRC, he would either kill himself or be killed. So, he made the heart-breaking decision to leave behind everything he knew – his loved ones, his career and his identity – to begin a new life in the UK.
11 January 2022
Celebrating Trans Day of Remembrance
To celebrate Trans Day of Remembrance 2020, Micro Rainbow board member Alana Eissa has highlighted the specific challenges trans asylum seekers and refugees must face in the UK.
20 November 2020
LGBTQI migrants hit hard by COVID-19
LGBTQI migrants have been hit hard by COVID-19. Find out more about the issues they face and how Micro Rainbow is responding to them.
19 June 2020
The Invisible Women
On the occasion of International Women’s Week, Micro Rainbow announces a project dedicated to supporting LBTI asylum seeking and refugee women.
5 March 2020
From detention to Micro Rainbow’s housing
Issues faced by LGBTQI migrants in UK detention centres and how Micro Rainbow could be an Alternative to Detention (ATD) for many people who are at risk of violence and abuse.
13 November 2019
Winners of the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award for Innovation
On 24th September 2019 Micro Rainbow and its corporate partner, Weil Gotshal and Manges were crowned winners of the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award for Innovation.
7 October 2019
June’s story
This is the story of June, a lesbian from China who was trafficked into the UK and is now hoping to gain asylum.
30 July 2019
Alana’s story
Alana shares her experience of leaving her own country, claiming asylum in the UK, finding safety with Micro Rainbow’s housing and moving on to a bright future.
21 January 2019
Winners of the William Sutton Prize for social entrepreneurship and innovation
On 22nd November 2018 Micro Rainbow was awarded the inaugural William Sutton Prize for Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
28 November 2018
Kaira and Muhammed’s stories
Success stories of Kaira, an intersex asylum seeker from a Latin American country and Muhammed, a gay asylum seeker from Bangladesh
5 October 2018
Cataleya’s story
From sleeping rough on the streets of London to finally finding safety in an Micro Rainbow safe house
2 October 2018
Safe housing for LGBTQI asylum seekers in the West Midlands
Micro Rainbow has expanded its service provision of housing in the West Midlands. We now run three safe homes exclusively for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees in the area.
27 July 2018
Suffering in silence – the invisibility of LGBTQI refugees
On World Refugee Day, we wrote a blog for Amnesty International LGBTQI Network. We discussed the invisibility of LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees and challenges they continue to face including discrimination, isolation, poverty and homelessness.
20 June 2018
Winners of the Best CSR Programme of the Year Award 2018
Micro Rainbow and Weil Gotshal and Manges win the prestigious Legal Business Award under the category “Best CSR programme of the year”.
27 April 2018
The first safe house for LGBTQI asylum seekers opens in the UK
In October 2017 Rashid and Maria, two asylum seekers from Bangladesh and El Salvador, entered the first safe house in the UK that is exclusively for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees.
7 November 2017
Winners of the Thomson Reuters Foundation Innovation Award 2017
On 26th September Micro Rainbow was the winner of the prestigious TrustLaw award for innovation
4 October 2017
Finalist in European Social Innovation Competition – “Integrated Futures”
Micro Rainbow was selected from a shortlist of 30 and a total of 1,095 applicants from 36 countries as a finalist in the European Social Innovation Competition.
16 November 2016
