Each year, thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) asylum seekers apply for asylum in EU Member States.This book considers the position of LGBTI asylum seekers in European asylum law. Developing an encompassing approach to the topic, the book identifies and analyzes the main legal issues arising in relation to LGBTI people seeking asylum including: the underestimation of the relevance of criminalization of sexual orientation as well as the large scale violence against trans people in countries of origin by some European states; the requirement to seek State protection against violence even when they originate from countries where sexual orientation or gender identity is criminalized, or where the authorities are homophobic; the particular hurdles faced during credibility assessment on account of persisting stereotypes; and queer families and refugee law.

The book gives a state of the art overview of law in Europe, both at the level of European legislation and at the level of Member State practice. While being largely focused on Europe, the book also takes into account asylum decisions from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States and is of relevance internationally, offering analysis of issues which are not specific to particular legal systems.

About the Author
Thomas Spijkerboer is professor of migration law at VU University Amsterdam. He has published on gender and sexuality (Gender and Refugee Status, Ashgate 2000; Women and Immigration Law, with Sarah van Walsum, Routledge 2007). He also publishes on the role of courts in migration law, and on border deaths.

Reviews

"Thomas' Spijkerboer's new collection Fleeing Homophobia offers a rich sampling of analysis and critique of asylum decision-making for people at risk of being persecuted because of their sexual identities. This is a vital area of leading jurisprudential developments over the past ten years, which has garnered intense scholarly attention. Fleeing Homophobia makes a compelling contribution."

- Catherine Dauvergne Trudeau Fellow, Faculty of Law at Allard Hall, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

"Fleeing Homophobia brings together a collection of socio-legal essays written by established and early career scholars of refugee law. The collection develops from the Fleeing Homophobia project, and an earlier conference on the same theme, and aims to provide a timely and critical analysis of law and practice in the adjudication of sexual orientation and gender identity-related asylum claims. This collection is essential reading for students and practitioners of refugee law. It engages in-depth with the complexities of asylum adjudication, and the many difficulties encountered by those 'fleeing homophobia' in ensuring that their claims are heard, and recognised. While highlighting significant political moments in asylum adjudication, each of the contributors urges caution and continuing attention to the practice of asylum law."

-Siobhan Mullally -University College Cork, International Journal of Refugee Law, 2015

Book Information
ISBN 9781138930131
Author Thomas Spijkerboer
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 362g