AUnderstanding barriers - LGB immigrant group pupils BBeyond the school gates: community and family life CInspiring initiatives

INTRODUCTION

This section reviews the specific situation of LGB adolescents of foreign birth or origin in Germany, attempting to examine religious and cultural factors and also the question what kind of support institutions may be able to offer where a home environment might not (fully)accept homosexuality. This is exemplified by an inspirational project for young men from so-called cultures of honour whose aim it is to fight oppression in the name of honour and to promote equal opportunity and equality irrespective of gender and sexual identity.

In Germany, the specific situation of homosexuals amongst the population with immigrant background remains relatively unchartered territory. The preconception that their majority lives in hiding can neither be proved or disproved as empirical studies do not as yet exist.

There is, however, indication that factors such as perceived chances to integrate into German general society, stigmatization, responses from parents and religious beliefs will all have an important effect on the health, contentment and self-confidence of homosexuals with immigration background.

The better the chances are for integration, the more content an immigrant will feel and the more positive the image a homosexual individual will have of himself or herself. Decisive factor for such chances being embraced is the support rendered by the socio-environment. The more supportive and receptive an environment, the more positive the chances to integrate will be perceived (and vice versa: the more receptive a society is the more supportive it will be perceived). For lesbian and gay individuals in general, immigrant or not, it is true that a supportive environment will have a positive effect on perceived stigmatization: the more supportive the environment, the less stigmatization will be felt. And a lower level of perceived stigmatization based on homosexual identity will mean a more positive identity as a lesbian or gay person, and greater contentment in general. While a supportive environment is decisively important, specifically important factor will be the response of the family for health, contentment in general, an individual’s general identity and image of himself as a gay person, or herself as a lesbian, and his or her confidence to be able to tackle life in general. A positive response from the parents will have a positive effect regarding all the parameters named.

Apart from support, or lack of it, from the social environment, religion, too, plays an important role for homosexuals with immigration background. In general, the stronger the affiliation with a religious community, the more negative the effect on a homosexual individual‘s self-image. This effect, however, is independent from ethnicity. If an individual’s sexual identity is incompatible with religious commandments, he or she will more often report health problems; this conflict will negatively affect an individual’s perception of self as a homosexual and his or her general reported contentment.

The personal circumstances of individuals of foreign birth or origin in many respects are very similar to the ethnic German lesbian and gay community in general. And migration is not necessarily a risk factor with regard to physical or mental health, or will as such negatively affect self-esteem. Immigrant-background homosexuals will not be subject to discrimination outside the family more frequently and will develop a similar collective identity as lesbian or gay individuals of ethnic German origin.

The below excerpt from an article in the Sueddeutsche Zeitung, one of Germany’s leading daily newspapers, helps shed some light on the situation of homosexuals amongst immigrants.

“For the first time, a systematic study provides deeper insights into the personal situation of gay immigrants in Munich, Germany. It sometimes is able to disprove received preconceptions, while other results are alarming.

The man who newly triggered a debate on integration has his office at the Sub, centre for culture, communication and counselling for homosexuals, in the heart of the city of Munich, a debate, however very different from the one caused earlier in the year by Thilo Sarrazin. Sascha Hübner, 39, a cup of Espresso in front of him, and a bar-chart on the computer screen behind him, holds a degree in psychology. He organized the first survey examining the personal situation of homosexuals of foreign birth or origin in Munich. Quite a few of the results come as a surprise.

Over 100 immigrants living in Munich were surveyed by Sub, with 43 different countries of origin between them, including Cameroon, Serbia, Thailand, Poland and Brazil. The results may not always be representative; they do, however, offer some interesting insights into the lives of gay immigrants ‘And they do disprove many a cliché’, says Hübner, pointing at a chart from his PowerPoint-presentation.

The study shows: Homosexuals of foreign birth or origin often do dare living openly gay, and they will not be more afraid of an Outing then ethnic Germans. Over 80 per cent indeed had outed themselves amongst friends, more than 65 per cent to their mothers and as many as 50 per cent to their fathers, figures similar to those for ethnic German homosexuals. And Hübner argues: ‘A man from ultraconservative Altötting village will not find Outing an easy step either.’

The study unfortunately also shows that, shockingly, ‘over half of the sample surveyed has been subject to verbal abuse or physical violence’, reports Hübner. Homosexuals with immigrant background will often find themselves doubly victimized – for both their ethnic and their sexual identity, and by both heterosexuals and by homosexuals. According to the survey, the gay community displays less intolerance regarding ethnic origin than the general population, however, not markedly so.

The Sub, centre for culture, communication, and counselling for homosexuals, Munich, has been participating in the city of Munich project for the development of intercultural competence (IQE) since 2008 with the aim to make the centre and its programs more attractive to homosexuals from international ethnic backgrounds. First measures have been taken: Website and flyer have been translated into various languages. Counsellors have been trained in immigration law and asylum law, and the cooperation with organizations for immigrants, such as Refugio and the Bayerischer Flüchtlingsrat (Bavarian Refugee Council) is being intensified. In this context also the survey by Sub in hand was published.

Amongst the interesting results of the survey for Sub themselves was that not enough immigrants are familiar with the counselling and support the centre offers. This may prove disastrous, as a counselling centre can often be a vital lifeline for victims of discrimination. In hostels for refugees, relates Hübner, homosexuals are sometimes victims of outright bullying. ‘They are sworn at, harassed and the doors to their apartments kicked in.’ Very often their only option is to flee and seek rescue outside. The Sub, however, also offers support and counselling garding more every-day issues related to successfully navigating between different worlds and establishing a life as a homosexual.

The survey also invited suggestions for improvements to the centre’s programs. Immigrants suggested German language classes, international film evenings and seminars for job applications and interviews. ‘We are currently working on all of these,’ says Hübner. (…)”

Discuss – Move – Improve

Aim of the project is to discuss, analyse and challenge social norms with young men and to offer them possible alternative views and approaches

There are Heroes projects currently in the following cities: Berlin, Munich, Duisburg, Schweinfurt, Offenbach, Nuremberg, Augsburg, all Germany and Graz und Salzburg, Austria. The project hopes to be an inspiration to other cities and countries and to promote its spirit and its peer-to-peer approach. If interested, please contact a Heroes project manager at any existing location. (…)

Background
HEROES – against oppression in the name of honour is the name of a project, represented in German and Austrian cities, for the prevention of violence, in which young men of non-German birth or origin and from ethnicities with strict codes of honour and archaic-patriarchal structures actively promote the equality of men and women and human rights in general.

Youths with migration family history often double between two worlds which expect them to fulfil conflicting roles: Patriarchal and authoritarian attitudes and behaviours on the one hand may clash with demands for equality and self-actualisation and individualistic life choices on the other. And it is not only girls and women who are forced to conform and submit into a disadvantaged position, boys and men, too, are often under enormous pressure.
However, due to their privileges, especially as brothers and future fathers, they are able to play a decisive role in promoting change and shaping the future.

Nobody can make this happen on his own!
and therefore there are HEROES –
against oppression in the name of honour

Prerequisites for becoming a HERO

Male adolescents between 16 and 23 years of age from so-called cultures of honour
who are ready and open to discuss, challenge and address issues such as equality, masculinity and manliness, honour and human rights
and who wish to dedicate themselves to making a change in their own life and in society at large!

9 months training – make a HERO

In the framework of regular seminars, the young men address and discuss issues such as honour, identity, gender roles and codes of conduct and human rights. Apart from providing relevant scientific facts and figures, the seminars want to raise awareness and encourage empathy, reinforce confidence and develop assertiveness, and there is also a lot of space for the exchange of ideas and personal experiences.

There are group discussions of topical issues and for reflection on own attitudes held:
in weekly meetings together with a group tutor,
which provide a protected space,
with creative and didactic methodology,
and there are also other activities together with their group.

At the main focus is analysing and challenging the male gender role, and oppression in the name of honour. Conflict situations are re-enacted by role play and alternative responses tested. This will help reflection on own attitudes. However, also other general every-day topics, such as school, family and relationships are covered and discussed.

Certificate
After a training phase of approx. nine months participating young men will become HEROES officially and will be awarded a certificate to the effect.

Workshops

Now themselves trainers and disseminators these HEROES will be able to conduct seminars in schools, youth centres, similar educational institutions and more. In the form of role play the HEROES motivate other youths to themselves discuss issues such as honour. And through direct interaction the HEROES try and present alternative views and attitudes and thus motivate other youth to take a stance against oppression.

Central issues will be:

Oppression of women and girls
Role imagery: hierarchical relationships between men and women
Homophobia
Prejudice and discrimination
Sexism
Violence against women and girls

Challenging established societal structures takes courage –
which makes HEROES!!

The interactive experience of the workshops is intended as preventive measure and wants to motivate adolescents to address the central issues at hand and the oppression these are used to justify.

STORIES

Related to multiple discrimination, Mehmet’s (Krefeld, Germany) story can be a good example.
At the age of 3-4, he doesn’t play with his brothers, prefers dolls and adores himself in front of the mirror. His mother takes him to a physician who describes him a testosterone-therapy. Trying to adopt Muslim ‘culture’, Mehmet takes part in different fights with his brothers, because this is considered to be masculine. He leaves his family at the age of 17 but the pressure of the culture and religion is too tight. Other families, peers with migration background from Turkey warn his father: Mehmet could be dangerous, so the family, friends, the whole community outlaw him as a traitor. So finally, what is left for the young man, is isolation from the family, community and also from Muslim religion, starting a totally new life. (https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/article153106736/Der-schwule-Sohn-in-der-muslimischen-Familie.html)
In this case, support, protection, aid from family, school, peer-groups, or religious community is hopeless due to the very strong cultural affiliation to the religious and cultural muslim community. Since peers, friends are also from this community, isolation is always specific and exclusion is a typical form of rejection. On the other hand, media, Mehmet’s courage, the safe country as migration background (here: Germany), LGBT institutions offering support, and last but not least a safe and reliable Europan legal background can offer an environment where an LGB young person can feel secure.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

short movies:

UNIT 2

Pupils With a Migration Background

INTRODUCTION

STORIES

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

RESOURCES

Partners