This blog post is a complement to the June 25, 2024 webinar entitled “Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Community in Newcomer Services.” It expands the content of the webinar and offers a deep dive into promoting feelings of welcoming and belonging; cultivating intersectional and trauma-informed practices; and building partnership and organizational capacity to serve LGTBQ+ newcomers. This blog was informed by the experiences and contributions of Craig Mortley, MSc, from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work; Abby Davies from InReach; and Max Niedzwiecki of the Episcopal Migration Ministries Rainbow Initiative.
Welcoming and Belonging for LGBTQ+ Newcomers
Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ newcomers often face a painful blend of discrimination and marginalization in their receiving communities. In many places, the lack of culturally sensitive services combined with the lack of acceptance from people who share their own ethnic or linguistic backgrounds may add to their sense of isolation. As a result, they often struggle to access to the support they desperately need, leaving them vulnerable and at an increased risk of homelessness.
For this reason, creating welcoming and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers is crucial for fostering community well-being. Such environments are essential for their social and economic inclusion, safety, empowerment, and interconnectedness. These spaces are most effective when they actively demonstrate acceptance and integration and celebrate the unique experiences and identities of each individual, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
Genuine inclusion requires moving beyond mere rhetoric. It is an intentional commitment that requires action, empathy, and cultural humility on an ongoing basis. Concrete steps that organizations can take include:
- Conduct Organizational Assessments—identify opportunities for improvement through periodic and comprehensive assessment. Organizations can use tools like Heartland Alliance’s LGBT Refugee Resettlement Guidelines and Agency Self-Assessment periodically to identify strengths and challenges they may face when resettling LGBTQ+ refugees. Organizations can also consult with other experts such as InReach and learn from their vetting process for assessing LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- Comprehensive Training—on a regular basis, invest in efforts to help staff and volunteers understand the unique challenges LGBTQ+ newcomers face. Topics could include sensitivity; equity; legal protections at the federal, state, and local levels; and cultural diversity. Training should be ongoing and adaptive to evolving community needs. You can check out Switchboard’s Identity and Inclusive Services topic page to access more training materials related to serving LGBTQ+ newcomers for your organization, or you can submit a Switchboard technical assistance request for more personalized training support.
- Inclusive Non-Discrimination Policies—develop and enforce transparent, consistently applied non-discrimination policies that include LGBTQ+ newcomers, employees, and volunteers. Ensure these policies cover access to services and include mechanisms for enforcement and accountability.
- Leadership and Representation—build integrative leadership frameworks that connect LGBTQ+ individuals with lived experiences of forced displacement to authentic decision-making roles. Foster a culture of genuine inclusivity and understanding by ensuring diverse perspectives are represented throughout the organization.
Intersectionality and Trauma-Informed Approaches with the LGBTQ+ Community
The need to implement intersectional and trauma-informed approaches is crucial, recognizing that LGBTQ+ newcomers face diverse, overlapping challenges and are not a monolithic group. While many share experiences of trauma and oppression in their countries of origin, on their paths to greater safety, and in resettled locations, they come with diverse histories of marginalization and discrimination, and each demonstrate unique forms of resiliency. Here are some practical strategies for operating successfully within this complex context:
- Implement Trauma-Informed Care Practices—traumatic experiences make lasting impacts on newcomers of all descriptions. Attention to their trauma-related needs should be interwoven with all that you do. Learn more here.
- Confidentiality—handle all self-disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity with the utmost care and confidentiality.
- Allyship—demonstrate allyship by, for example, clarifying our pronouns, hosting LGBTQ+ events, leveraging social media, and getting involved in local celebrations like Pride festivals.
- Safe Spaces—establish safe spaces where LGBTQ+ newcomers can gather, share their experiences, and support each other. The Queer Sisterhood Project provides one example.
- Discrimination—plan to tackle discrimination in various aspects of life such as housing, employment, medical care, and community interactions.
- Partnerships—develop partnerships with LGBTQ+ organizations in order to mitigate clients’ potential social isolation, foster supportive community connections, and provide support in areas where your agency may be lacking. At the same time, avoid assuming all LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers are out and/or are looking for a connection to LGBTQ+-specific services.
The Importance of Partnerships Linking LGBTQ+ and Resettlement Organizations
While creating welcoming spaces is crucial, the complex needs of LGBTQ+ newcomers often extend beyond what a single organization can provide. Strategic partnerships between LGBTQ+ and resettlement organizations can address the cultural barriers and unique challenges of double marginalization that many LGBTQ+ newcomers face.
The number of organizations serving the broader LGBTQ+ community throughout the U.S. varies significantly by region. Rural areas tend to have few to no local LGBTQ+ affirming organizations. However, even in urban hubs, many LGBTQ+ affirming organizations do not have the capacity to address the broad range of needs that different communities face. It is vital for partner organizations to recognize that the community includes newcomers who face unique challenges due to their immigration status and double marginalization.
Many LGBTQ+ organizations may be interested in serving LGBTQ+ newcomers but still remain inaccessible to them. For example, an organization may require documentation that a newcomer does not have access to (e.g., a photo ID, proof of income, health insurance, etc.), or they may lack translation/interpretation services. Smaller organizations, in particular, may not require cultural competence training for their staff and volunteers, making it more difficult for newcomers to feel comfortable. Finally, staff and volunteers may not be trauma-informed, and U.S.-born staff at LGBTQ+ organizations may not recognize how gender identity and LGBTQ+ terms and identities differ in other countries and cultures.
The values of partnership are many: opening up referral networks to address social isolation, enhancing cultural competency, and meeting specialized legal and medical needs, to name just a few. Below are a few guiding principles for developing strong and equitable partnerships, courtesy of Asylum Access:
- Develop shared understandings of culture, context, and power as they pertain to the communities you are seeking to help.
- Share ownership and voice by making decisions and working together.
- Maintain trust and transparency by clarifying your mutual expectations and facing difficult conversations head-on.
- Remain flexible in addressing needs as they evolve, as well as in adjusting to ways of operating that may be distinctive to different kinds of organizations.
- Prioritize mutual accountability and learn through shared accountability standards, as well as through periodic review of your partnership.
Additional Resources for Welcoming LGBTQ+ Newcomers
To create truly inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ newcomers, organizations must commit to ongoing assessment, comprehensive training, and the development of strong, equitable partnerships. For further such training and resources on supporting LGBTQ+ newcomers, check out these other resources in the Switchboard library:
- Archived Webinar: Understanding and Serving LGBTQ+ Newcomers
- Archived Webinar: LGBTQ+-Responsive URM Programs and Services
- Blog: Proud to Welcome All: Community Education about LGBTQ+ Newcomers at Pride and World Refugee Day Events
- Podcast: Serving LGBTQ+ Newcomers
We hope you’ll also consider accessing resources from the organizations that contributed to this blog post, as well as other Switchboard resources related to serving the LGTBQ+ community.
