LGBT

Worcester LGBT (Asylum, Support, Network), founded in Worcester in 2018, has celebrated its seventh anniversary with a major national event in East London, bringing together more than 200 members from across the United Kingdom to mark seven years of solidarity, inclusion, and empowerment.

The celebration, held on 4 November 2025, featured live performances, speeches, and the cutting of a rainbow cake emblazoned with “7 Years of Love & Support.” Guests shared biryani and snacks as part of a nationwide gathering that symbolised unity, love, and hope for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers who have found safety and belonging through the organisation. Worcester LGBT began in 2018 as an online activism group amplifying the unheard voices of LGBTQ+ people in Worcester and campaigning for fairer asylum systems. The city’s small but vibrant LGBTQ+ community inspired the creation of a platform where those fleeing persecution could be heard and supported. In 2024, the organisation evolved into a structured membership network dedicated solely to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and refugees. Today, Worcester LGBT has nearly 1,000 members nationwide, with new people joining every week. Its members come from Worcester, Birmingham, London, Manchester, Wales, Scotland, and many other cities across the UK. Because of its national reach, the organisation now holds monthly Asylum Seekers Connection Events in East London — an area that is both easily accessible and known for its inclusive, welcoming atmosphere for LGBTQ+ people. The group provides safe spaces, peer support, and letters of support to assist asylum claims through its rigorous community engagement verification process. Over the past seven years, Worcester LGBT has supported hundreds of people in securing refugee status and rebuilding their lives in safety. One such story is that of Monsur Ahmed Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi gay man whose asylum case was covered by Worcester News on 5 October 2024. After discovering Worcester LGBT through social media, he received the group’s support in preparing his appeal. The organisation provided testimony and advocacy in his case, stating publicly: “We are deeply concerned about Mr Chowdhury’s welfare. He is a genuinely gay person who has been let down by the Home Office.” Monsur now serves as Secretary of Worcester LGBT in recognition of his dedication and contribution to the organisation. A spokesperson for Worcester LGBT said: “When Worcester LGBT began, it was a small voice for fairness — a few people determined to help those who felt invisible. Today, it’s a lifeline for hundreds of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers who have faced unimaginable challenges. Many arrive alone and traumatised, carrying fear and shame from persecution. Through our community, they rediscover strength, love, and dignity. Each story we witness reminds us that asylum seekers are not illegal — they are human beings seeking safety, compassion, and belonging. Our role is to make sure they are never alone again.” In March and April 2025, Worcester LGBT received written acknowledgements from the Home Office’s Asylum Policy Secretariat and Asylum Support Unit. One letter stated: “We acknowledge your continued work with LGBT+ asylum seekers in the UK. The Home Office remains committed to delivering an asylum system that is sensitive and responsive to all forms of persecution including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity.” Another added: “We would like to thank Worcester LGBT (Asylum, Support, Network) for supporting asylum seekers within the LGBTQ+ community and for sharing amendments to your policy.” Following recent protests and growing hostility toward asylum seekers in the UK, Worcester LGBT has renewed its call for compassion and understanding — reminding the public that people seeking refuge are human beings deserving of safety, dignity, and respect. ... See MoreSee Less