Lesbian activist Aderonke Apata has been granted asylum in the UK, after a 13-year-long legal battle.
Apata left her home in Nigeria in 2004—facing persecution because of her sexuality. Her husband was murdered in an ‘honour killing’ after it was discovered that she was gay.
The activist wrote on the Facebook page to share the good news and thanked her friends and legal team for their support.
“I'm extremely overwhelmed with joy and gladness to know that now I'm safe and can live freely as a human being!” she wrote.
“I cannot thank enough everyone that wrote letters of support, ready to witness for me in Court, signed my various petitions and sent best wishes to me.
“You have all contributed to this victory. It's impossible for me to list all of you that stood by me as you run into millions! Do know that I appreciate you all.”
Apata has persevered through a series of setbacks—including a Deputy High Court judge denying her appeal in 2015, saying she couldn’t be a lesbian because she has children.
“I find it difficult to disagree with the conclusions of the First Tier Tribunal that ‘she has engaged in same-sex relationships in detention in order to fabricate an asylum claim based on claimed lesbian sexuality’," John Bowers QC
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell said at the time that the ruling did not accept that Apata was in real danger if she was forced to return to Nigeria.
"It’s clear that she’s been publicly identified in the UK and in Nigeria as a lesbian or bisexual woman. Such women face the twin threats of legal persecution and mob violence in Nigeria," he said.
Since her case has been successful, Apata has called on the Home Office to improve its process for protecting LGBT+ asylum seekers.
“The Home Office needs to catch up with the rest of the UK, drop its vile ‘proof of sexuality’ policy and move on from 1967,” she told .
“All LGBTI people seeking asylum in the UK want – like anyone else – is to be treated with fairness, dignity and humanity.
“Having been forced to flee by hate and intolerance at home, being branded a liar by the Home Office is demeaning and cruel for LGBTI people seeking asylum.
“I hope the Home Office will look back, reflect on my case and treat everyone with the decency and respect they deserve.”
In her Facebook post, Apata vowed to keep fighting for LGBT+ asylum seekers with her charity, African Rainbow Family.
“As you rejoice with me for being safe, kindly remember that there are many people still in the same position that I was in for over 13 years!
“I implore you all to stand with me and them to change the LGBTI asylum application system that seeks to persecute, dehumanise and demean people each step of the process for whom they are.”
