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Rajae

“Being a lesbian in Morocco is so taboo that people wonder if it really exists.”

© Nastasja Saerens

Rajae is 21 years old and comes from Morocco. She left her country as a teenager to avoid an arranged marriage. Being a lesbian in Morocco is so taboo that she couldn’t put her desires into words. She chose to seek asylum in Belgium. In Morocco, homosexuality is illegal and punishable by 6 months to 3 years in prison.

Rajae wants to fully embrace her sexual orientation, get her papers to travel and discover the world and other cultures, become an artist and open a vintage clothing shop.

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Jade

“Being visible can serve to liberate me and tell what I want to tell a society that believes there is no transphobia.”
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Adil

“The procedure can take 2, 3 or even 5 years sometimes. During this time we live in stress and fear.”
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Jean-Loïc

“My partner was lynched by the crowd. Neither the police nor the justice system protected me. I had to flee my country to stay alive.”
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Judit

“LGBTIQ+ people have specific needs that are invisible because of the cissexism present in the reception system.”
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Sara

“Take the time to learn about LGBTIQ+ asylum seekers’ specific needs.”
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Yury

When I escaped from Ukraine, I went first to Poland and then to Italy, where I sought political asylum. In one of the shelters I was before I came to Casa+, I felt very lonely.
Read Yuri's testimony

Filomena

Casa+ users are extremely vulnerable and fragile people; understanding their needs means listening to them and giving them support, as well as a dignity often denied to them because of repeated episodes of discrimination and isolation.
Read Filomena's testimony

Arsène

“We need LGBTIQ+ associations in the reception centres. I didn’t have that.”
Watch Arsène's video testimony

Zein

“We come here to have peace and to live our lives as human beings.”
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Rodrigo

“The social network, the basis of inclusion, is built primarily on leisure.”
Watch Rodrigo's video testimony

Antonio

In many societies, LGBTQIA+ people are victims of severe human rights violations, violence, torture and aggression. The need is to rebuild self-confidence, trust in authorities and institutions, and to make people aware of their identity and proud of themselves.
Read Antonio's testimony

Juan

I left my home country because of discrimination and harassment by the police. Casa+ is the second community experience in Italy for me; before that, I was in another shelter, in which I have been mistreated by other beneficiaries.
Read Juan's testimony

Hzani

“I was rejected by my family because I am trans. All my life I have been abused and institutions have never protected me.”
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Huguette

“When I was made visible, I had to leave everything, I was threatened with death.”
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Emelyne

“One of the first requests here is for a cocoon, a space to call your own.”
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Emmanuel

“It is necessary to develop reception and accommodation facilities for LGBTIQ+ exiles in order to provide them with inclusive, caring and safe spaces. The multiplication of these centres across France will facilitate their asylum application process and their integration.”
Watch Emmanuel's video testimony

Claudia

“Trans people are vulnerable in a system that does not have a gender perspective adequate to their needs.”
Read Claudia's story

Joana

“I grew up in an environment of hatred, I was surrounded by hatred.”
Watch Joana's video testimony

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Rainbow Welcome!

The #RainboWelcome project is co-financed by the REC programme of the European Union, and will be implemented from September 2020 to August 2022. 

The project is coordinated by POUR LA SOLIDARITÉ–PLS, an independent European think & do tank committed to promoting solidarity and sustainability in Europe.

Co-funded by the Programme Rights, Equality
and Citizenship of the European Union
(2014-2020)

This website and the project content reflects the views of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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Rainbow Welcome! visual universe

Rainbow Welcome! visual identity has been developed by Alison Roger France, in collaboration with PLS and all the partners. 

She studied the complexity of sexuality, sexual orientations, genders, gender expressions, identities, sexual characteristics, fluidity between the various spectrums, etc. She also adopted a reflective creation process including refugees’ journey in life and on earth to finally come with those organic forms whose nasting, movements and textures aim at illustrating the multiplicity and complexity of each and all individuals. Of course, the colours of the LGBTIQ+ flag have been used. The whole is wanted to be dynamic, intriguing and … positive. Our message is the one of reception and inclusion, as stated in our motto “Rainbow refugees, WELCOME!”.