Swiss group aims to support gay migrants

Source: HAB, the homosexual task force of Berne

Same-sex relationships have reached widespread legal and social recognition in Switzerland in the last 30 years. Nevertheless, for homo-, bi- or transsexual migrants, “secondos” or “secondas” the situation has not improved very much yet.

They not only have to fight for their integration and against discrimination and racism, but still have to to hide themselves within their own ethnic community and have to fear rejection or even physical violence. Therefore, HAB, the homosexual task force of Berne, has decided to address the subject of homophobia and migrants with a poster-campaign in public transport for the International Day Against Homophobia (may 17th, 2010).

Besides that, we offer assistance and are planning different other activities within this subject.

• «Please help me, I’m a man in love with a man / I’m a woman in love with a woman!»
• If it is difficult for you to cope with these feelings, if you have questions concerning same-sex relationships or if you fear difficulties, please refer to the link “counseling section”
• «I would like to meet other gay migrants or Secondos/Secondas. I would like to help organising meeting opportunities.»

Contrary to the UK, Germany or France, Switzerland has no specific LGBT groups or resources for migrants. If you would like to help us to change this, please contact:

• gaymigs@ha-bern.ch 
• Gaymigs Zürich