In 2005 – motions were brought to the TUC LGBT conference re our ethnic, black and Asian people being persecuted killed and tortured in their own countries.  These people were also being denied asylum and sent back to their own countries.

I went along to the Amnesty International conference with leading Union leaders from Colombia and one of the top human right lawyers.  This can be seen in my report on the website.  This conference made it clear that the plight of Colombia needs to be highlighted.  This is now happening as the PCS have taken this forward Nationally.

The plight of LBGT BME people in other countries such as Nigeriahas been highlighted too in relation to Asylum seekers.

Phyl and I went to 2 meetings with the LBGT Immigration group and solicitors.  We have developed a working relationship with them.  It was after meeting them I wrote a motion with Phyl around the plight of LBGT asylum seekers being refused asylum and sent back.  It brought together all the information from the Meetings with LGBT Immigration group, Amnesty International and other sources around training, procedures and services for LGBT people. We are now all working together to put right the problems with Immigration Service.

2006 LBGT TUC conference was great, we met and got to hear about the plight of LBGT people inIraqand amazed to hear that under Sadam Hussein LGBT people were protected and had rights.  Now under the so-called democratic system in place they are persecuted, tortured and killed.

The motion re Asylum seekers was never heard at the PCS National Conference 2006.  This was disappointing, but that was not going to stop us.

Great news is that all the meetings and the hard work paid off. The motion around the Discrimination that LBGT people face was passed at the National PCS conference.  This means we will be able to meet with the Home Office and the Immigration department, and look at ways to change the system, improve services, hopefully give the training and information, to improve the way LGB people are dealt with, who are fleeing persecution or facing death due to their sexuality.

This is a small step and thanks you to Lorna and Phyl for making alterations to last years same motion so it could be passed this year.

Pressure needs to be put on the government to change the way applications are dealt with, so that a lot of LGBT people do not have to go back to countries where they would not be safe. Now we have to go ahead we can take this matter up formally.

Policies need to be changed around this so that a lot of applications do not have to the Appeal Courts costing the government a lot of money.

The application form I have been informed around LGBT people is discriminating in a lot of ways. The application form is type casting and offensive, asking questions about decoration and whether you use Laura Ashley or liking the music of Barbara Stressed etc. While some gay men do like these things gay men are very different in their tastes in music, culture and film and anybody who bothered to find out this would find this to be the case.

I think there should a group of people including gay organisations that should monitor the applications of people who seek Asylum.

I agree with the campaign to promote and campaign against the discrimination against LBGT asylum seekers. We need to get money from all gay organisations and gay press or for gay press to advertise this for free to help the campaign. I also agree that this matter should go to the international agenda.

The information that is used about countries that are violating human rights and persecuting LGBT people needs to be updated regularly. Other sources of information should be used check these countries apart from the one used by the Home Office.

The government are refusing applications from these kinds of people telling them to go back and keep their sexuality quiet and they will be all right. They are sending these people back to be killed, tortured, raped or worse. Are the Government murderers? Do they have blood on their hands and what is being done to monitor what happens to these people when they go back? Most of the time these people suddenly disappear.