Abstract
Lesbian and gay (LG) identified asylum seekers are caught having to play out both covering and reverse-covering processes in the United States: they first faced the necessity of attempting to cover in their country of origin where they experienced discrimination and persecution if their sexual orientation was known, but when applying for asylum, they must reverse-cover so as to prove their sexual orientation to the immigration judge. This chapter examines the psychological implications of the reverse covering demand on LG asylum seekers, asserting that the immigration judges’ perceived expectation that these individuals be out regarding their sexual orientation identity at the time of the asylum interview can produce negative mental health effects. Findings from a qualitative research study conducted by the author concerning the experiences of 15 LG individuals seeking asylum in the United States due to persecution in their country of origin as a result of their sexual orientation are used to ground this idea. Six recommendations are provided for immigration judges regarding how to avoid perpetuating a reverse-covering demand and consequent potential negative mental health effects by means of improved education on how to conduct better LG-informed interviews.
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Notes
- 1.
“The Psychological Impact of the Asylum-Seeking Process in the United States on Individuals Who Identity as Lesbian, Gay Male, or Bisexual: A Qualitative Study” Long Island University. Defended April, 21, 2016.
- 2.
One of the subjects initially identified himself as bisexual and later in the interview stated that he actually identifies as gay. This chapter intentionally focused on the experiences of the lesbian and gay subjects for purposes of focus and space. Not wanting to contribute to a “bi bias” where bisexual individuals are excluded, further study and attention to this particular population and its specific concerns and needs is highly encouraged.
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Berasi, K. (2019). Gay and Lesbian Asylum Seekers in the United States: The Interplay of Sexual Orientation Identity Development, Reverse-Covering, and Mental Health. In: Güler, A., Shevtsova, M., Venturi, D. (eds) LGBTI Asylum Seekers and Refugees from a Legal and Political Perspective. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91905-8_11
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