LGBTQI+ Safety

RACS has witnessed an increase in protection claims from LGBTQI+ people who are persecuted in their home countries due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics (SOGIESC).  

In response, we have developed the LGBTQI+ Safety Program, supporting refugees and people seeking asylum who are fleeing danger based on SOGIESC grounds.  

Individuals may be fleeing their home countries based on:  

  • The criminalisation of same-sex relationships 

  • Consensual sexual conduct between two people of the same sex 

  • Law regarding transgender and gender diverse people 

  • Sexual and gender-based violence 

  • The denial of rights to assembly, freedom of expression and/or political opinion 

Our lawyers in this program are specially trained to support refugees who identify as LGBTQI+ in accessing safety in Australia.

Graphic of interracial handholding in front of a rainbow-pride-striped heart. There is text to its left reading 'In the last 12 months, RACS has supported 75 LGBTQI+ refugees' with the last line of text highlighted in blue.

In the last 12 months,
RACS has supported
182 LGBTQI+ refugees

Across Asia and the Pacific, LGBTIQA+ people face violence for who they are — yet protection is often out of reach.

For the first time, they will be able to access dedicated support for priority processing in Australia’s humanitarian program. 

Learn more here

The RACS LGBTQI+ inclusive practices toolkit for legal representatives and community workers

In recent years, RACS has seen an increase in the number of people seeking our help who fear harm based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

The purpose of this manual is to give voice to the lived experience of asylum seekers who have sought protection on this basis.

Learn more about the LGBTQI+ Toolkit

If you need legal help, contact us:

📞 (02) 8355 7227
10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm
Monday to Friday

✉️ admin@racs.org.au

Please note: our phones are often really busy. If you cannot reach our helpline, please send your contact number to admin@racs.org.au and we will call you back. We can only assist people located in Australia.