Over 100 migrant and homeless LGBTQ+ people have contributed to an innovative new research project tackling social exclusion. Entitled Building Inclusive Queer Spaces: A Community Toolkit, the free publication reveals striking insights into the challenges faced by some of the most marginalised members of society.

Spearheaded by Friends of the Joiners Arms, The Join Project was led by Irish researcher Dr Siobhán McGuirk. She gathered input from people across London, to develop a range of concrete actions to help organisations and businesses become more inclusive.

Contributors reported experiencing several challenges, including asylum seekers’ government IDs not being accepted when entering venues, frequent and unexpected relocations due to Home Office or council decisions, being housed in locations with poor transport connections, limited finances resulting in reduced work and social opportunities, as well as general lack of awareness of accessibility.

The toolkit contains practical advice and concrete steps to achieve solutions, informed by LGBTQ+ migrant and homeless people. It is being distributed to over 60 charities, service providers and queer venues across the English capital in a bid to end exclusion.

 

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The toolkit is additionally accompanied by a podcast series featuring contributors, where they share their lived experiences of racism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia and anti-homeless attitudes. Introduced by Anne Onwusiri, there are six episodes in total, which also set out participants’ hopes and dreams for spaces that can build community resilience.

“This research elevates the voices of our contributors because they know the realities of trying to survive in hostile environments,” said Siobhán McGuirk, Research Lead at Friends of the Joiners Arms.

“Our communities are so often pitted against each other, but people who are queer and homeless or have insecure migration status know the power of community and solidarity – and the necessity of inclusive spaces.”

Sam Whelan-Curtin, Management Committee Communications Lead at Friends of the Joiners Arms, commented: “Our research adds to growing reports and evidence that queer people in the UK are facing increasing levels of prejudice and discrimination – but also points to the concrete actions people in all sectors can take to tackle exclusion, and the painful impacts it has on LGBTIQ+ people who are seeking asylum or are homeless.”

Building Inclusive Queer Spaces: A Community Toolkit can be downloaded for free here, with the accompanying podcast available here.