How does the Home Office evaluate sexual identity in asylum claims?
People seeking asylum based on their sexual orientation, including homosexuality and bisexuality, may be members of a "particular social group" eligible for refugee protection under the Refugee Convention . Part of the Home Office caseworker's role in deciding whether to accept an asylum application is to analyse the person's overall trustworthiness. This involves determining whether the candidate is speaking the truth about their sexual orientation, which is often challenging. Sexual orientation is a highly personal and subjective thing that manifests itself in a wide range of experiences. This essay examines the criteria used by the Home Office to evaluate it in the hopes of casting some light on the process. Because claims based on gender identity are subject to different policies and processes, trans and intersex claims are not addressed in this piece. "Shame, embarrassment, and concealment" Caseworkers are instructed by the Home Office to seek for evi...