A press release today on behalf of the LGBT group at the European Parliament reveals that member states will henceforth be required to adopt laws so that their immigration services “identify asylum-seekers who need special procedural guarantees, determine the nature of these needs, and respond to them adequately.” Areas of concern include people who are seeking asylum on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity. French MEP, Sylvie Guillaume, said: “This was strongly opposed by most Member States, and it’s one of our very clear achievements.”

I can’t speak for other EU countries, but in the UK the Border Agency has become notorious for asking intrusive and inappropriate questions of asylum seekers who claim to be gay or lesbian. Anyone who doesn’t conform to a gross stereotype is in big trouble. Things have got so bad that some asylum seekers are reportedly resorting to filming themselves having sex before leaving for the UK so they can prove their case.

Once appropriate legislation has been passed, this sort of thing should stop. Of course this is Europe we are talking about. Getting everyone to toe the line is hard. And indeed there are a couple of countries whose governments are so hopelessly backward and homophobic that they have refused to have anything to do with this and have opted out of the process. I’m sure you can guess what sort of countries they are. So, drum roll of shame, please for…

The United Kingdom, and Ireland.

*headdesk*