LGBTQ+ Refugees in Gorom Denied Medical and Legal Help

(Juba) – As the world prepared to mark World Refugee Day on June 20, a group of refugees in South Sudan say their stories are being left out of the global conversation. These are LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers living in Gorom Refugee Settlement, who face daily threats, systemic exclusion, and now an impending eviction.

Many of these individuals fled from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan. In their home countries, identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer often led to arrest, violence, forced marriages, and rejection by families. After initially seeking protection in Kenya, some were again forced to flee due to rising violence against LGBTQ+ refugees in camps. They came to South Sudan, believing it might be safer. It wasn’t.

In Gorom Refugee Settlement, LGBTQ+ individuals report ongoing abuse. Some have been denied food and healthcare by block leaders who suspect them of being queer. Others say they are attacked by fellow refugees and even by members of the host community. Transgender women are mocked and refused medical care, while those living with HIV face deep stigma and lack access to life-saving treatment.

Safe housing does not exist for LGBTQ+ couples. Many are forced to pretend they are siblings to avoid separation or abuse. One gay couple reported being threatened by men accusing them of “bringing demons” into the community. Others, like lesbian sisters, say they sleep in turns at night, taking shifts to guard each other after repeated rape threats.

Children of LGBTQ+ parents are also affected. Many face bullying at school and some are even denied meals. With few options for work and no support, some queer women turn to survival sex work, which puts them at higher risk of sexual assault and HIV infection. Mental health services tailored to their trauma are unavailable. Several residents have attempted suicide.

A community-led human rights monitoring report earlier this year documented physical assaults, death threats, medical discrimination, and suicide attempts targeting LGBTQ+ refugees. But the findings have resulted in little concrete action. Many reports are caught in bureaucratic delays, and protections are slow or absent.

While the South Sudan Commission for Refugee Affairs had allowed LGBTQ+ refugees to remain in Gorom with limited tolerance since December 2023, that brief reprieve is ending. An eviction order has been issued for June 20 — ironically, World Refugee Day — requiring all LGBTQ+ individuals to leave the camp. No alternative site or safety plan has been provided.

Some support has come from UNHCR South Sudan and NGOs like Rainbow Railroad. While these organizations acknowledge the crisis and have helped in some cases, refugees say responses are too slow. The long process of documentation and relocation can take months — time that many say they no longer have.

Voices from within the camp reflect the urgency. Daniella, 24, a trans woman, says she was beaten for wearing jeans considered “too tight.” Joseph, 31, reports that his partner was attacked after they added their names to the protection list. Amina, 28, who is HIV-positive, says a clinic nurse mocked her, blaming her illness on “sin.” She no longer seeks treatment.

LGBTQ+ refugees are now calling for several urgent actions. They want UNHCR and partner agencies to treat queer refugee protection as a priority, not a side issue. They demand access to safe housing, faster resettlement, inclusive mental and physical healthcare, and full consultation in any policies affecting their lives.

Many say they are not asking for special rights — only for the same protection that others receive.