NEWS & BLOG

“For us, Pride is not only a celebration. It is also a reminder of everything we survived, everything we lost, and everything we are now able to hope for. It reminds us that our love deserves to be seen, respected and celebrated. Our message to other LGBTQ+ people, especially those seeking safety, is never give up on being yourself. Keep going, believe in yourself, and know that even after the hardest times, a new life can become possible.”

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members

Pride’s Origins

Every June, Pride brings together millions of people to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, communities and achievements. But Pride’s origins lie in protest rather than celebration. The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement is commonly traced to the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, when members of New York City’s LGBTQ+ community resisted a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, sparking demonstrations that became a catalyst for LGBTQ+ activism and inspired the first Pride marches.

In turn, the first London Pride march took place in 1972, when 2,000 people took to the streets for the UK’s first official Gay Pride Rally. Over time, a small but courageous march has evolved into a global movement celebrating visibility, equality and community.

Yet more than fifty years later, the struggle for safety and freedom remains a global issue. While many LGBTQ+ people can now enjoy freedoms that previous generations fought hard to secure, many challenges remain.

Before we moved to the UK, life felt full of fear, silence and hiding. We had to be careful all the time. Explaining our relationship was hard, and sometimes people did not accept us. We left many things behind to find safety, and it was not an easy journey. But now, after being granted refugee status and getting married, we feel that we are finally building the life we once thought was impossible.

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members

Why LGBTQ+ People Migrate

LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination, violence and criminalisation because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Persecution can lead to forced displacement and the need for international protection. Whether seeking family reunification, legal recognition, safety from persecution or opportunities to live openly, LGBTQ+ people have often navigated immigration systems in pursuit of dignity and belonging. 

“We lived for many years hiding our relationship, our feelings and who we really were. It was not only about laws; it was about the way people looked at us, the fear of someone finding out, and the pain of not being able to speak openly about our future. We loved each other, but for a long time we could not even dream freely. We were not planning a future; we were just trying to survive.”

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members

Discrimination and Criminalisation

Identifying as LGBTQ+ remains criminalised in over 70 countries and is punishable by death in some. 

Although it is important to understand where homosexuality is illegal, it is equally important not to frame homophobia as a problem that exists only in “other” countries or cultures. Such tropes are reductive, misleading and harmful. Many countries that criminalise same-sex relationships today inherited these laws from colonial administrations. Others enforce laws and restrictions through state-sanctioned interpretations of religious or moral codes. Moreover, homophobia is not confined to certain regions. Prejudice and hostility also occurs in countries with strong legal protection for LGBTQ+ people.

Understanding these histories reminds us that discrimination is shaped by complex political, social and historical factors. LGBTQ+ identities have existed across all cultures and societies throughout history, just as prejudice and exclusion have taken many different forms.

Our most treasured memory of Pride is the first time we joined a Pride march in the UK. It felt like a dream. In Turkey, Pride marches have been banned for years, and we had only watched them in videos and films. To walk together in real life, surrounded by colours, music and people supporting each other, was very emotional for us. We felt proud, safe and visible. We made friends, we felt a sense of belonging, and for the first time we felt that we were part of something bigger than our pain. It was unforgettable.

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members 

The UK

Pride has always reflected the UK’s diverse population, with people from a wide range of cultural, ethnic and national backgrounds marching and celebrating together. 

For LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, reaching the UK is often only the beginning of a much longer journey towards safety, stability and belonging. For many LGBTQ+ people seeking asylum, proving their sexual orientation or gender identity is one of the most difficult aspects of the asylum process. Many have lived in fear for years, concealing who they are to stay safe. Having to then provide evidence of that identity to the Home Office can be a deeply distressing experience. Many also experience social isolation, poor mental health, discrimination in asylum accommodation and uncertainty about their future. 

Solidarity and how you can get involved

The struggle for equality extends beyond individual identities and national borders. Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically and safely, regardless of where they were born or where they come from. 

“West London Welcome has been a very safe and supportive space for both of us. When we first arrived in the UK, we felt very lonely and lost. We had no friends or family here, and we were living in a small room that felt like a box while trying to understand the asylum process. We did not know what would happen to us, and sometimes we felt invisible. Being welcomed with kindness made a big difference. It showed us that there were people who cared, listened and wanted us to feel included.”

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members

Many refugee organisations  and charities, including West London Welcome, provide holistic support for LGBTQ+ migrants and people seeking asylum in the UK, helping individuals navigate legal systems and access practical support while building new lives. 

“The West London Welcome LGBTQ+ community has changed our lives since moving to the UK. Meeting people like us changed everything, because for the first time we felt understood without needing to explain ourselves. It gave us strength, hope and a feeling of belonging. During the asylum process, we only had each other as our main support, but the WLW LGBTQ+ community helped us feel less alone. It helped us believe that a peaceful future together was possible.”

– WLW LGBTQ+ community members 

At West London Welcome, Pride is an important opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our community. We are proud to support our LGBTQ+ community members as they navigate trauma, assert their rights and rebuild their lives with dignity.

Happy Pride– from all of us at West London Welcome.

To see our Instagram post about Pride, click here.

Nita Gula is Communications and Administrative Officer at West London Welcome.