The Reality of LGBTQ+ Refugees in East Africa
My name is Ashley, and I am a leader and representative for LGBTIQA+ refugees in East Africa. I write this not just for myself but for my community those of us who have been forced to flee our homes, only to find ourselves trapped in places that offer no real safety.
Many of us fled countries where being queer is criminalized, where living as our true selves meant risking imprisonment, torture, or death. We left everything behind, believing we would find protection in refugee camps. But instead, we were met with more violence, more fear, and a brutal system that refuses to recognize our humanity.
In Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, LGBTQ+ refugees face relentless attacks. We’ve been beaten, raped, and even burned alive, yet our cries for help are ignored. Reporting violence only puts us at greater risk, as the very authorities who should protect us either turn a blind eye or, worse, participate in our persecution.
Seeking a safer place, some of us moved to Gorom Refugee Camp in South Sudan. But here, the dangers are just as severe. The South Sudanese government is openly hostile toward LGBTQ+ people, and authorities actively target activists and community leaders. Armed groups patrol the camps, making it clear that we are not welcome. We live in hiding, knowing that at any moment, we could be identified and silenced permanently.
The conditions in these camps are inhumane. Food and water are scarce, and medical care is almost nonexistent. We are often denied access to aid simply because of who we are. Queer women, especially lesbians, are at high risk of corrective rape, and trans individuals are subjected to brutal violence. Mental health support is unheard of, and many in our community have taken their own lives, unable to bear the constant suffering.
We once had hope for resettlement, believing that the world especially countries that champion human rights would open their doors to us. But restrictive immigration policies, like those under Trump’s administration, have left us stranded in dangerous limbo. The dream of living freely feels further away than ever.
But we refuse to be erased. We refuse to stay silent.
We need the world to hear our voices. We need solidarity. Our struggle is not just about one camp or one country it is about the fundamental right of LGBTQ+ people everywhere to exist without fear. Awareness leads to change, and change begins with those who refuse to look away.
So, to everyone reading this: stand with us. Speak out against the injustice we face. Share our stories. Challenge the systems that keep us in the shadows. We may be silenced at gunpoint, but together, we can break that silence.
Ashleyphil🩵❤️💜💙💛🏳️⚧️
