Unique Issues Affecting
LGBTQ+ Immigrants
Are Often Ignored
LGBTQ+ immigrants often lack the
fi nancial resources and documentation
to access essential services. One reason:
Immigration and other forms don’t
ask LGBTQ+ individuals to identify
themselves as such. And LGBTQ+
immigrants may be reluctant to
reveal this information after fl eeing
countries biased against them for these
reasons. Both factors make it diffi cult
to collect data on this population.
But documented and undocumented
LGBTQ+ immigrants need safer,
more secure immigrant civilian
detention systems, which are typically
segregated by gender, exposing
transgender individuals to higher
rates of harassment, discrimination
and assault. Culturally competent
legal aid support is another must, to
help LGBTQ+ immigrants navigate
the criminal justice system and access
discrimination-free, multilingual social
service programs. Language barriers
and cultural differences also make
it tough for LGBTQ+ immigrants to
fi nd inclusive communities, since
most organizations for the immigrant
population lack programming, services
and policies for LGBTQ+ immigrants.
1 in 5 Florida
residents is
an immigrant.
Individuals in the large Central Florida LGBTQ+ immigrant community are
often reluctant to identify themselves as LGBTQ+. Immigration forms typically
do not have questions related to sexual orientation or gender identity. These
individuals may also feel unsafe providing such information, leaving them
to navigate a complex bureaucracy without help for their specifi c needs.
WHAT MUST BE DONE:
1 2 3
Service providers for
LGBTQ+ immigrants
must offer multilingual
intake forms with
gender-neutral options,
accept all forms of
identifi cation, and should
establish LGBTQ+
nondiscrimination
policies.
Immigration attorneys
should receive
LGBTQ+ cultural
competency training,
working alongside
case managers to
navigate sensitive
conversations regarding
potential trauma
and victimization.
Law enforcement
agencies should
adopt policies on
the holding and
transferring of
LGBTQ+ immigrant
detainees, including
policies to prevent
misgendering and
solitary confi nement.
IMMIGRATION
LGBTQ+ immigrants are
10 times more likely to
experience sexual violence
than their heterosexual/
cisgender counterparts.
MORE
INFO:
Hispanic Federation
www. hispanicfederation.org
QLatinx
www.QLatinx.org
/hispanicfederation.org
/www.QLatinx.org