17. October 2022

Federal Ministry of the Interior abolishes behavioural prognoses for LGBTIQ+ refugees within the asylum procedure

After the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD) and its partner organizations criticized the practice of the “discretion requirement” for years, the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) has now revised the asylum instructions and abolished the so-called discretion prognoses for queer refugees. From October 2022 onwards, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) will no longer assess how dangerous it would be for queer asylum seekers if they were to return to their country of origin based on their predicted behaviour, but will always assess the risks for LGBTIQ+ persons who do not hide their sexual orientation or gender identity.

20. March 2022

Important information for people fleeing Ukraine who are not Ukrainians:

The following notes apply to LGBTIQ+ people who were still living in Ukraine (e.g. for study or work) on February 24, 2022, but do not have Ukrainian citizenship:

There are first reports that some foreigners authorities (Ausländerbehörde) in Germany urge non-Ukrainian people, who had lived in Ukraine before fleeing to Germany, to use the IOM return programme to leave Germany or to file a conventional application for asylum.

However, this group of people should not allow themselves to be urged into a conventional asylum procedure if they fear persecution and discrimination if they were to return to their country of origin. They should rather insist that the immigration authorities issue them a preliminary certificate (Fiktionsbescheinigung) stating that they have applied for a residence permit in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act (Aufenthaltsgesetz).

15. March 2022

Germany adopts a simplified admission procedure for refugees from Ukraine

Germany has enacted a special regulation for refugees from Ukraine. This applies to Ukrainians as well as to many individuals who have a permanent residence title in Ukraine and have fled to Germany. Refugees from Ukraine should also register in Germany, but they do not submit a classic asylum application. In a simplified procedure they apply for a residence title for a certain period of time (according to section 24 Residence Act). This residence title usually also entitles them to take up a job and to attend an integration course.

27. February 2022

“Queer Refugees Germany” publishes booklet for integration courses

The curriculum of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) clearly stipulates that newly immigrated people should also learn about the rights and situation of LGBTIQ++ people in Germany in the orientation courses. Often, however, the course instructors lack suitable materials to adequately convey this content. Because: In the textbooks available in the trade, the topics are usually dealt with insufficiently and superficially. With the brochure “Diversity Welcome!”, the project “Queer Refugees Germany” has now for the first time developed a comprehensive accompanying booklet that complements the existing materials.

27. February 2022

First exchange meeting between refugee LGBTIQ++ activists with DeBUG violence protection multipliers

From 19 to 21 November 2021, a meeting between the refugee LGBTIQ++ activists of “Queer Refugees Germany” and the multipliers for violence protection of all seven DeBUG contact points took place in Cologne for the first time. The DeBUG project pursues the goal of supporting refugee shelters as well as their operating and supporting organisations throughout Germany in improving the protection against violence. The programme of the meeting included various workshops with plenty of space for the exchange of experiences on the subject of violence against LGBTIQ+ refugees, a presentation on violence and trauma as well as a joint self-assertion training of all participants.

31. October 2021

President of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees Dr. Sommer receives the Lesbian and Gay Association for talks in Nuremberg

On the afternoon of October 1st, representatives of the Lesbian and Gay Association in Germany (LSVD) met with the management of the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) in Nuremberg to exchange views on various topics concerning the treatment of queer refugees. BAMF President Dr. Hans-Eckhard Sommer had invited the LSVD to the headquarters of the German asylum authority in Nuremberg. The meeting was preceded in the morning by an exchange between the association and specialist departments of the Federal Office.