Social and Legal Support for LGBTIQA+ Migrants and Asylum Seekers
Every situation is different. That is why we do not offer standardised pathways. Instead, we build the support together with each person, taking into account their story, their needs and the stage of the procedure they are currently facing.
For some LGBTIQA+ people, migration is not a choice, but a necessity.
When someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity puts them at risk of violence, discrimination, persecution or of being unable to live freely and safely in their country of origin, seeking protection may become the only way to build a new life.
For IAM Intersectionalities and More APS, supporting LGBTIQA+ migrants therefore means more than helping people access services and information. It means supporting them in understanding, claiming and exercising their rights.
Our work combines social support with guidance throughout the international protection procedure, with particular attention to experiences related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
We work alongside each person, starting from their story, their needs and the stage of their migration journey they are currently navigating.
International Protection — A Journey We Face Together
Applying for international protection in Italy can be a complex process, particularly when the reasons why someone had to leave their country are connected to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Telling your story, reconstructing what happened, understanding which information is relevant and navigating the different stages of the procedure can be difficult.
That is why we offer individual, respectful and informed support, helping each person better understand the process they are going through and prepare for its different stages.
The international protection procedure is the same throughout Italy, but the way people access the relevant office of the State Police — the Questura — can vary from one area to another.
The procedure officially begins at the Questura. At the first appointment, applicants are generally asked to provide the documents required to start the process, including passport photographs, proof of accommodation, a written account in their native language explaining the reasons why they left their country of origin, and their country-of-origin passport.
The application is then formally registered at a subsequent appointment through an official document known as the C3 form.
Support can begin at different stages, including after the procedure has already started, and can be provided in collaboration with cooperatives and organisations involved in migrant reception and accommodation.
For people living in private accommodation, we can support the process from the beginning, providing guidance throughout the application and the subsequent stages involving documentation and administrative procedures.
Our work is based on the understanding that sexual orientation and gender identity can play an important role in a person’s migration experience.
Someone may arrive in Italy after experiencing discrimination, violence, threats, family or social rejection, persecution or other forms of exclusion.
In other cases, they may find it difficult to talk about their experiences or to recognise the relevance, within their own story, of events connected to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
We therefore create a space where people can talk about their experiences without judgement, with respect for each person’s own pace and way of expressing themselves.
Depending on individual needs, our support may include understanding the protection procedure, reconstructing one’s personal story, preparing for the different stages of the process, and receiving guidance on documentation and available services.
When necessary, we work alongside relevant professionals and local organisations, helping to create a more comprehensive network of support.
Sharing your story can require trust.
That is why confidentiality is a fundamental part of our work.
Information shared during meetings is handled by experienced staff and is not disclosed outside the service, except where permitted or required by applicable privacy legislation and within the purposes agreed upon with the person concerned.
Every meeting is a space where people can talk about their experiences knowing that they will be listened to, respected and treated with care.
The support service is free of charge.
To take part in the association’s activities, an annual membership card is required, at a cost of €10.
We also ask for a voluntary donation of €30 or more, which helps support IAM’s activities for the people we accompany and support.
The ability to provide this service is also made possible by the voluntary commitment of the people who contribute to the association’s work.
IAM’s work goes beyond individual support.
We also provide training on issues affecting LGBTIQA+ migrants, sexual orientation, gender identity, discrimination and the specific challenges associated with international protection procedures.
Our training is aimed at organisations and professionals who, in different ways, come into contact with these experiences and want to develop greater awareness, skills and practical tools for providing more informed and respectful support.
We also believe that support is not limited to services.
That is why we create opportunities for social connection and informal gatherings for migrants who would like to take part.
These are informal, optional spaces designed to meet others, get to know one another, share experiences and build relationships in a welcoming environment.
Taking part in the social life of the association is not a requirement for accessing our support services.
Everyone Has the Right to Be Heard
Seeking protection means having the opportunity to tell your story.
It means being able to speak and be heard without your identity becoming a reason for judgement, exclusion or further vulnerability.
For IAM, supporting an LGBTIQA+ migrant means working to ensure that each person can understand their rights, navigate their journey with greater awareness and find a space where they feel recognised and respected.
We do not decide who a person should be.
We do not ask anyone to fit a particular model.
We work together to ensure that each person has the tools they need to tell their story, make their own choices and build their own path forward.
Discover Our Service
- Social support and individual guidance
- Support throughout the international protection procedure when claims are related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity
- Guidance throughout the different stages of the procedure
- Collaboration with cooperatives and organisations working in migrant reception and accommodation
- Support for people living in private accommodation, from the beginning of the procedure through the subsequent stages involving documentation
- Training on LGBTIQA+ and migration-related issues
- Opportunities for social connection and community activities for migrants who wish to participate
For information about the service, how to access it or to arrange an initial meeting, contact us by email at intersectionalitiesandmore@gmail.com or via WhatsApp at +39 339 338 9448.