[Shaun]

Gay and lesbian people seeking asylum in the UK from persecution abroad are being ordered to "prove" their sexuality, MPs have said.

In extreme cases claimants had handed over photographic and video evidence of "highly personal sexual activity" in an effort to persuade officials, the Home Affairs Committee found.

The gay rights group Stonewall called the testing system "distressing".

The Home Office promised to monitor and maintain standards.

In its report on the asylum system, the committee said it was concerned by the quality of the UK Border Agency's decision-making, as 30% of appeals against initial decisions had been allowed in 2012.

And a backlog of 32,600 asylum cases that should have been resolved in 2011 was yet to be concluded, while the number of applicants still waiting for an initial decision after six months had risen by 63% last year.

Some had been waiting up to 16 years, while the housing with which they were provided was sometimes "appalling".

It also said poor decision-making by officials was raising the risk of the UK harbouring war criminals.

The committee also focused on the situation facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people seeking asylum.

In its report, the committee said they faced "extraordinary obstacles" in persuading immigration officers of their case.

Its chairman, Labour MP Keith Vaz, told BBC News: "It is absurd for a judge or a caseworker to have to ask an individual to prove that they are lesbian or gay, to ask them what kind of films they watch, what kind of material they read.

"People should accept the statement of sexuality by those who seek asylum. This practice is regrettable and ought to be stopped immediately."

A Supreme Court ruling in 2010 stated that the "underlying rationale" of the United Nations Refugee Convention was that people should be able to "live freely and openly" in their own country without fear of persecution.

This judgement, the committee said, had effectively overturned the Border Agency's previous emphasis on "voluntary discretion" - which had meant it should be seen an option for claimants to conceal their sexuality in order to avoid abuse.

The report said: "The battleground is now firmly centred in 'proving' that they are gay. In turn, this has led to claimants going to extreme lengths to try and meet the new demands of credibility assessment in this area, including the submission of photographic and video evidence of highly personal sexual activity to caseworkers, presenting officers and the judiciary."

The committee said: "We were concerned to hear that the decision making process for LGBTI applicants relies so heavily on anecdotal evidence and 'proving that they are gay'."

It added that "it is not appropriate to force people to prove their sexuality if there is a perception that they are gay. The assessment of credibility is an area of weakness within the British asylum system.

"Furthermore, the fact that credibility issues disproportionately affect the most vulnerable applicants - victims of domestic and sexual violence, victims of torture and persecution because of their sexuality - makes improvement all the more necessary.

Stonewall says LGBTI people in some countries have suffered rape, torture and death threats.

Spokesman Richard Lane said: "Being gay isn't about what nightclubs you go to; it is a fundamental part of who you are.

"Sadly, in far too many cases, valuable time is spent attempting to 'prove' a claimant is gay in this way rather than establishing whether they have a legitimate fear of persecution.

"This is not only a waste of time and resources but can be deeply distressing to asylum seekers, many of who have fled for fear of their lives."

A Home Office spokesman said: "The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need it. We are committed to concluding all cases as quickly as possible, but asylum cases are often complex and require full and thorough consideration.

"We have robust mechanisms in place to monitor standards of housing provided to asylum seekers."

He added: "We will continue to monitor performance to ensure that standards are met."

one step forward, two steps back...

[Mrluvaluva]

"You gay"? "What kind of films do you watch"? "If you're gay, prove it". -sound of zip being opened-

Sounds a bit ominous...

Seriously though, if they just let everyone through, everyone would be "gay". I don't know what the solution is though? Everyone would jump on the gay bandwagon.

[Kizzy]

In other news sales of 'mean girls' t-shirts are at an all time high.

[arista]

He added: "We will continue to monitor performance to ensure that standards are met."


But Shaun they have to do something.


Step Forward

[Benjamin]

Yeah, they need some form of measure (not sure the best option) or people will play the 'homosexual card' to gain entry.

[thesheriff443]

they should ask them, if they love dusty springfield as all gay people love her.
if not then they are not gay and need to leave.

If there are any Korean female asylum seekers that need to prove they're straight, then I'd be willing to volunteer my penis to assist in this matter.

[Cherie]

It sounds awful when you see it in print, but on the other hand it probably has been an "easy" route to take and people will have naturally used it to gain asylum. No idea what the solution is, but it is is no different to people seeking asylum illegally for other reasons, and needs to be addressed.

and lol Sherrif.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Jesus.

If there are any Korean female asylum seekers that need to prove they're straight, then I'd be willing to volunteer my penis to assist in this matter.

I knew you had a kind heart and you have finally come (pun) good.

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Jesus.

If there are any Korean female asylum seekers that need to prove they're straight, then I'd be willing to volunteer my penis to assist in this matter.

now that will cause more problems!
all Korean women now claming to Vietnamese

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

now that will cause more problems!
all Korean women now claming to Vietnamese

Originally Posted by Cherie

I knew you had a kind heart and you have finally come (pun) good.

I'm a humanitarian when all is said and done. I just want to do my bit by extending the gland of friendship.

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

now that will cause more problems!
all Korean women now claming to Vietnamese

I knew I could count on you for some words of encouragement!

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Jesus.

I'm a humanitarian when all is said and done. I just want to do my bit by extending the gland of friendship.



I knew I could count on you for some words of encouragement!

im always here! for you jesus.

[lostalex]

I wonder during ww2, when jews were trying to flee europe, was there a process they had to go through to prove they were jewish? or could anyone just change their name to goldberg or saltzman and they would be granted asylum?

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I wonder during ww2, when jews were trying to flee europe, was there a process they had to go through to prove they were jewish? or could anyone just change their name to goldberg or saltzman and they would be granted asylum?

you are taking this too seriously!, no one will go down the route you want to take this!

Originally Posted by lostalex

I wonder like during ww2, when jews were trying to flee europe, was there a process they had to go through to prove they were jewish? or could anyone just change their name to goldberg or feldman and they would be granted asylum?

Before anything major really kicked off, Jews were required to identify themselves and forced to wear the Magen David. I think you had some Jews who pretended to be gentiles, but you didn't get gentiles pretending to be Jews to take advantage of Asylum.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Jesus.

Before anything major really kicked off, Jews were required to identify themselves and forced to wear the Magen David. I think you had some Jews who pretended to be gentiles, but you didn't get gentiles pretending to be Jews to take advantage of Asylum.

exactly, because even in the countries jews were fleeing to, there was still plenty of anti-semitism, so no one who wasn't jewish would want to be classified and known as jewish.

I think it's probably similar for people seeking asylum as homosexuals.

[Kizzy]

You think Britain is homophobic?

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

In other news sales of 'mean girls' t-shirts are at an all time high.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Salman!

wow, if you thought that was funny, i have a joke about a horse going into a bar that you're gonna love.