A qualitative exploration of how LGBTQ+ immigrants cope with managing visibility across cultures

Previous research has described the experiences of forced migrants as traumatic and has highlighted the reasons why Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) individuals would seek asylum from persecution. Reasons for LGBTQ+ populations being forced to seek asylum have included facing discrimination, harassment, prolonged psychological distress, and immediate threats of violence in their country of origin. The current study employed Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to investigate the lived experiences of five LGBTQ+ migrants who are out of the closet in their current countries of residence while remaining closeted in their countries of origin. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed five superordinate themes: Navigating Restrictive Environments in Country of Origin, Embodied Impact of Closeting, Labour of Secrecy and Identity as Performance, Immigration and Coming Out as Freedom, and Integrating Past and Present Across Borders. Limitations included broad inclusion criteria, lack of diversity in the sample, and a small sample. Limitations are addressed, and recommendations for future research are discussed, including the exploration of the lived experiences of individuals who would consider themselves to be “out” in countries where it is illegal to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community.