A new campaign led by queer refugees, launched in collaboration with Sub Munich’s LGBTQ+ refugee advisory service, calls for greater sensitivity in dealing with queer refugees, fair asylum procedures, and reliable protection from deportation. Under the banner “Pride Means Protection, Not Deportation,” the issue aims to be brought to the forefront.
Many asylum seekers come from countries where queer people face severe violence; in many cases, imprisonment or even the death penalty is on the line. Yet those affected must fear deportation once they reach Germany.
The current structure of the asylum system makes access to protection significantly harder. The upcoming reform of the Common European Asylum System (GEAS), approved in May 2024, is expected to intensify the situation when it comes into effect by summer 2026. The GEAS reform aims to speed up asylum procedures and curb irregular migration.
With these changes, the refugee advisory at Sub fears the situation for queer refugees will deteriorate further, as accelerated border procedures leave little time to clearly disclose persecution suffered or to present a credible asylum basis in detail. At the same time, the reform is expected to lead to greater standardization of all procedures, albeit at a lower level of protection, which could particularly impact vulnerable groups such as queer people. Additionally, there could be more detention-like housing as border procedures increasingly take place in closed facilities.
Greater voice and protection for those affected
Against this backdrop, the campaign “Pride means protection, not deportation” has been launched. It emerged from the collaboration between queer refugees, Sub’s professional refugee advisory service, and the volunteer initiative Rainbow Refugees Munich. The campaign aims to place the experiences of people who had to leave their home countries due to their sexual orientation or gender identity at the center, as they now face renewed uncertainties and burdens within the German asylum system.
At the heart of the campaign are two Pride ambassadors who want to raise their voices for queer refugees and their concerns: Suru Emmanuel (he/they), a queer human rights activist from Nigeria who has been advocating for LGBTIQ+ rights in West Africa for years. He also works, according to Sub, to “dismantle colonial ideologies and systems that promote oppression, exclusion, and social inequalities.” Wasajja Shadic (he/him), an LGBTIQ+ activist from Uganda and a visual artist, advocates for the rights of displaced queer people.
The two will speak from personal experience about the challenges queer asylum seekers face in Germany. They advocate for protection, dignity, and fair treatment in the asylum process.
Donations for greater visibility
The Sub Pride campaign explicitly calls for support for queer refugees and asks for donations (keyword “Refugees”). With these funds, the initiative plans to finance a van or truck for Rainbow Refugees Munich as part of Munich’s Pride (CSD) on June 27, to draw attention to the situation of those affected and to make the voices of queer refugees more visible in public.
The funds raised will also support future Rainbow Refugees Munich projects as well as community events and initiatives that foster participation and a sense of belonging. In addition to donations, volunteers are sought who want to contribute to the queer community.
Since 2017, Sub’s refugee advisory service has offered specialized counseling for gay, bisexual, and trans* refugees in Munich and Upper Bavaria. A team of qualified social workers assists clients, particularly in asylum proceedings and with social and health-related questions. Parallel to that, volunteers have been involved since 2015 in Rainbow Refugees Munich to support queer refugees in everyday life and to foster social participation through shared activities.
