Too Butch For Asylum - American Immigration officials denying request if 'don't look gay enough'

[WillParkinson]

Too Butch For Asylum

American immigration officials examining the cases of gays seeking asylum here are often denying such requests if the applicants "don't look gay enough" to be persecuted in their home countries.

“Judges and immigration officials are adding a new hurdle in gay asylum cases that an applicant’s homosexuality must be socially visible,” said Lori Adams, a lawyer at Human Rights First, a nonprofit group, who advises people seeking asylum based on sexuality. “The rationale is that if you don’t look obviously gay, you can go home and hide your sexuality and don’t need to be worried about being persecuted.” Jhuan Marrero, 18, who was born in Venezuela but has lived — illegally — in New York since he was 4, said the immigration officer at his asylum interview last week challenged him about his macho demeanor. “I was brought up by my parents to walk and talk like a man,” said Mr. Marrero, who volunteers at the Queens Pride House, a gay and lesbian center in Jackson Heights. “The officer said: ‘You’re not a transsexual. You don’t look gay. How are you at risk?’ I insisted that if I was sent back to Venezuela, I would speak out about being gay and suffer the consequences.”

Some asylum attorneys have advised their clients to appear as flamboyant as possible during their hearings. Adding to the problem is a surge in applicants falsely claiming to be gay in order to escape economic problems in their home countries.

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2011/01/too-butch-for-asylum.html

[davidinalameda]

1. I honestly think

that some of the immigration people wouldn't be happy unless they see someone like Marrero sucking someone's dick as proof of their sexuality

[RetiredTrotskyite]

2. Not surprised...

with all the fundies in government. I'm sure there are a shipload of them in Immigration as well.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. with all the anti-immigration sentiments in this country now, i am not surprised at all

this is why most liberal issues are gay issues

[jonnyblitz]

4. the same thing happened to a guy on my first navy ship.

He went to turn himself in and they told him he was NOT gay and to get out of their face. He was always out in the Norfolk, VA gay bars and I used to hang out with and mess around with him on occasion so i knew he was gay for sure but he was buff and a tough guy and didn't fit their stereotype. They figured he was just looking for a reason to get out.

[urbuddha]

5. ~*~

The immigration service are the same people who think dolphins are gay sharks !