Sexual and Gender Minority Refugees — Preparing Clinicians for the International Anti-LGBTQI+ Crisis

This perspective explores the compounded marginalization faced by LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers globally, particularly amid escalating anti-LGBTQI+ legislation like Uganda’s 2023 law criminalizing identity and imposing extreme penalties. It argues that clinicians must adopt trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to address medical, legal, and psychological needs stemming from persecution, forced displacement, and ongoing stigma. The article outlines key assessment domains (trauma history, identity development, safety, resilience) and advocates for integrated medical-legal partnerships in healthcare settings. By embedding legal support and training in LGBTQI+ refugee care, clinicians can help patients recover from trauma and prepare for asylum.

This perspective explores the compounded marginalization faced by LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers globally, particularly amid escalating anti-LGBTQI+ legislation like Uganda’s 2023 law criminalizing identity and imposing extreme penalties. It argues that clinicians must adopt trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to address medical, legal, and psychological needs stemming from persecution, forced displacement, and ongoing stigma. The article outlines key assessment domains (trauma history, identity development, safety, resilience) and advocates for integrated medical-legal partnerships in healthcare settings. By embedding legal support and training in LGBTQI+ refugee care, clinicians can help patients recover from trauma and prepare for asylum.