Lesbian asylum seeker will send home video as proof of sexuality

Aderonke Apata felt she had tried everything to persuade the Home Office she is gay. She’d sent letters from former girlfriends and supporting statements from friends.

But once her claim that she could be killed because of her sexuality if sent back to Nigeria was rejected, she felt there was only one way of providing a judge with irrefutable evidence: by sending a very personal home video.

Ms Apata, 47, has handed in a petition to Theresa May, the Home Secretary, demanding that the deportation of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender asylum-seekers is halted until a review of their treatment is concluded.

The Home Secretary ordered a review of how border officials handle gay asylum claims in March after leaked documents revealed that inappropriate interrogation techniques were being used to make people “prove” they were homosexual.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We do not remove anyone at risk of persecution because of their sexuality. All applications are considered in line with our international obligations.”

Read Emily Dugan's full report here