Lesbian and gay asylum seekers are being stereotyped by UK Home Office immigration staff, who are asking inappropriate and "unnecessarily intrusive" questions about their sexuality, an inspection has found.
Home Office staff asked gay, lesbian and bisexual asylum seekers questions such as "Why did you feel the need to have sex every day when you were on vacation?" and "What do you believe a relationship with a man may provide that is absent from a heterosexual partner?"
The report was carried out by Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration John Vine, who found a fifth of interviews with gay and lesbian asylum seekers included assumptions or questions which were based on stereotyped views about homosexuality.
One lesbian reported that her feminine appearance had been a subject of questioning during the application process. A gay man was also asked whether he had more or less than 100 lovers, which the report found "could be seen as being based on a stereotype of gay male promiscuity".
Mr Vine also uncovered evidence that staff - in particular those working in refugee detention centres - were asking applicants questions about their sex life and encouraging the submission of explicit material in support of their applications, despite guidelines stating that this is neither necessary nor appropriate.
