LGBTI refugees often asked to 'prove sexuality' while seeking asylum in UK

Gay and lesbian asylum seekers are often asked to prove their sexuality to the UK Border Agency immigration officers, the Home Affairs Committee has found.

The committee's report indicates that LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) face extraordinary obstacles in order to strengthen their case for residence.

According to metro.co.uk, in some cases, applicants have also been demanded photographic and video evidence of highly personal nature by officials.

Gay rights group Stonewall called the system 'distressing,' while the Home Office maintained that it would monitor its level of standards.

The committee said that poor decisions could raise the risk of the country harbouring war criminals, as some people had waited up to 16 years for a decision on their asylum application.

Committee chairman and Labour MP Keith Vaz said that it is absurd for a judge or caseworker to have to ask an individual to prove their sexuality adding that people should accept the statement of sexuality by those who seek asylum and the practice is regrettable, the report added.