Written by Julia D. López, PhD, MPH, LCSW, assistant professor of medicine; Lindsay Stark, DrPH, MPH, professor and associate dean for global strategy and programs; and Jeremy Goldbach, PhD, LMSW, Masters & Johnson Distinguished Professor in Sexual Health and Education, and associate dean for faculty affairs
Goldbach and Stark pictured at top row, center; Lopez pictured at bottom row, far right
Throughout their migration journey, LGBTQ+ migrants confront compounded challenges, finding themselves at heightened risk of various forms of violence, including sexual violence and torture. Despite the formidable obstacles, organizations and individuals dedicated to protecting and supporting LGBTQ+ migrants continue to operate with limited resources. Their ongoing efforts provide crucial support and involve advocacy for systemic changes, underscoring the significance of their work in the face of such adversities. Yet, the priorities for both academic research and service provision for LGBTQ+ migrants remain poorly understood.
To begin addressing this gap, Stark, Goldbach, and López, co-principal investigators and recipients of Here & Next Spark Funding, this summer partnered with the Women’s Refugee Commission to jointly host a two-day summit with community partners in Guadalajara, Mexico. Representatives across 11 different organizations convened to discuss the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ migrants and asylum seekers from Latin America and the Caribbean, in which Mexico is part of their migration journey.
The summit aimed to better understand the needs of LGBTQ+ migrants and asylum seekers and through a co-creation process with key academic, organizational, political, and community leaders, to identify current research and practice gaps in meeting those needs. Specifically, the summit addressed the persistent interpersonal and systemic violence experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals within and across borders, with the goal of improving mental health and well-being resources and long-term services available to LGBTQ+ migrants.
Following the convening, participants wrote a collective statement on priorities for serving the LGBTQ+ migrant population. It recommends three priorities for LGBTQ+ migrant-serving organizations, governments, and philanthropic partners:
1) Strengthening systems of protection for LGBTQ+ migrants and defenders of LGBTQ+ migrants,
2) Advancing individualized services for LGBTQ+ migrants for intervention and prevention, and,
3) Expanding shelters’ capacities to provide services to LGBTQ+ migrants
Washington University in St. Louis and the Women’s Refugee Commission have taken a vital step toward understanding the urgent needs of LGBTQ+ migrants in Mexico, fostering a collaborative approach to finding sustainable solutions. At a recent donor roundtable, WashU and the Women’s Refugee Commission presented the statement alongside a presentation on areas for further research.