Here to stay: Harriet Nakigudde
Coming out as LGBT was a challenge for most of us. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia are still (unfortunately) commonplace, and many individuals worry about being accepted. For some, the threat is more serious, and comes in the form of losing homes, jobs, or contact with loved ones.
For 30-year-old Harriet Nakigudde, the real worry was not being believed.
Ms. Nakigudde, originally from Uganda, fled her home due to legitimate fears of being persecuted for her ‘crime’ of homosexuality, which could have landed her in prison, or worse. Upon arriving in the United Kingdom, she was put through a series of humiliating interviews regarding her sexual orientation.
In order to ‘prove her lesbianism’, Harriet was asked to provide details of the sexual acts she would perform with a woman. Despite complying with the intrusive questioning, the UKHome Office did not believe her on the grounds that she had not been in a relationship with a woman since arriving in the UK five years prior to her detainment.
This led to her being held in the notorious Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre for several months, which resulted in significant weight loss and general ill health. The Home Office had arranged a flight for her to return to Uganda on May 17th, but Harriet collapsed whilst boarding the plane, likely due to extreme fear over the punishment she was headed toward.
Thankfully she did not forced onto the plane, and on Thursday an immigration judge (finally) accepted her application and granted her asylum in the UK.
Though worth celebrating, we must remember that Harriet Nakigudde was not the first LGBT asylum seeker facing this issue, and she will not be the last. The UK Home Office already has blood on its hands after deporting lesbian Jackie Nanyonjo in March last year, who was literally sent to her death.
We must continue the pressure on the government to ensure that the United Kingdom can act as a safe place for international LGBT people facing persecution in their home countries.