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The UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration
Group, formerly the Stonewall Immigration Group, is a
charity providing information and advice on immigration rights for
same sex couples and support for lesbian & gay asylum seekers. More
on the
History of the group.
Civil Partnership
legislation, which came into force on 5th December 2005 has
finally given us immigration equality with heterosexual couples, after
nearly 12 years of patient work. We are, therefore, now focusing our resources on
providing support for those with the most pressing
immigration need at this time – lesbians and gay men seeking asylum due
to a fear of persecution in their home countries. The
asylum seekers support project
was thus established in September 2005.
Although every effort has been made to
ensure that the information in these pages is correct and up to date, the
website is intended to be used as guidance and please
note that it is not intended to be a substitute for expert legal
advice. UK immigration law is complex and only in the most
straightforward of cases should you attempt to deal with the immigration
authorities without first obtaining legal advice. Limited free legal advice
is available at our meetings and on the
information and advice line. If
you need a detailed assessment of your immigration situation relating to
partnership, we suggest you contact a solicitor directly through the
solicitors listings. If you need to discuss
asylum issues, please come to an
asylum support meeting,
or call the helpline initially.
UKLGIG became a registered charity in
2004. Prior to this, while our work was concentrated on
partnership immigration issues, the group survived mainly on membership
fees. Since the start of the asylum support project, however, there has
been a huge increase in the numbers of people approaching us for help
and the scale of our operation has likewise increased. Although we now
receive vital support from funders, we still rely
heavily on donations and fundraising events. The income contributes
to the costs of the information
and advice line, monthly
asylum support meetings,
monthly partnership meetings, the
website, email responses, our full time executive director and part time
administrator. As the asylum project has developed, our paid staff,
assisted by volunteers, are now involved in country research, dialogue
with government and NGOs, publicity, provision of training for legal
practitioners and the operation of an
asylum solicitors rota to take urgent referrals.
Homosexuality remains illegal in 70 countries and
attracts the death sentence in 7. State level and
societal persecution is widespread.
In addition to the urgent need to help those who are seeking safe haven
in the UK, one of our aims is to support those who are working to change
such entrenched attitudes in their home countries. There is much
to do.
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