“It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made”
Christopher* is from Zimbabwe, and one of many LGBTQI people who have fled the country to seek safety. In Sweden, he has found community and a space where he can express himself, but new laws are making the lives of LGBTQI asylum seekers more difficult.
*Name has been changed to protect identity
Christopher came to Sweden searching for safety and a place where he could finally live openly as a LGBTQI person. He describes living in fear of violence, rejection and police brutality. But coming to Sweden meant having to leave everything he knew behind.
“It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made, leaving behind my family, my language, my culture”, Christopher says.
The rights of LGBTQI people in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is one of over 60 countries in the world where same-sex relations are still illegal. Because of this, LGBTQI people in the country are constantly at risk of persecution. Furthermore, these laws are often used by authorities to harass and intimidate LGBTQI people who are just trying to live their lives.
Many of these laws were originally implemented during colonial rule by the UK. To this day, these laws remain in place in several former British colonies.
Applying for asylum: a tough process
The asylum process can be difficult in many regards. In 2025, new laws were adopted which force asylum seekers to stay in accommodation they’ve been allocated, or they lose their financial aid. Previously, LGBTQI asylum seekers were able to find other accommodation where they felt safe. The new rules mean that LGBTQI asylum seekers now have to stay in accommodation with other asylum seekers, which many find to be unsafe for LGBTQI people.
RFSL has released several reports, which show that the Swedish Migration Agency is breaking both national and international law in many cases when it comes to LGBTQI asylum seekers. It is very difficult to have your asylum application approved. In 96% of the studied cases, LGBTQI asylum seekers had their cases rejected. Furthermore, RFSL’s report shows that the Swedish Migration Agency often place unjust requirements on LGBTQI asylum seekers. For example, having a detailed thought process about their identity and being able to talk about this articulately. This can be difficult for LGBTQI people from places where issues of gender and sexuality are taboo.
This is something many of us haven’t had the ability to talk openly about before. It inflicts pain, having to relive your difficult live experiences, Christopher explains.
The process is long, and having to live in uncertainty and not being able to plan your future is one of the worst parts according to many LGBTQI asylum seekers. Therefore, support for LGBTQI asylum seekers is important, to help them get through the difficult process.
“I wouldn’t have made it through some of the hardest moments without Newcomers”
RFSL Newcomers is an award-winning support service and meeting space for LGBTQI people, who are asylum seekers or newly arrived in Sweden. These safe spaces are essential for LGBTQI asylum seekers. The meeting spaces allow them to meet others who share similar experiences and learn about their rights. For many, the Newcomers group can be the first space where they are able to fully be themselves. Christopher describes it as a lifeline.
I wouldn’t have made it through some of the hardest moments without Newcomers, Christopher explains.
In the Newcomers group, the participants can receive support from counsellours. RFSL also has two asylum lawyers, who offer legal support to asylum seekers free of charge. The Newcomer groups also organise activities such as going swimming or taking boxing classes. One moment that was life-changing for Christopher was when he was able to participate in his first Pride ever, together with the Newcomers group.
This is exactly the life I wanted to live, Christopher says, with a big smile on his face.