Specialisation and individualisation in social work

Not all refugees are the same; there are many different reasons why people leave their home countries. Homosexuality, bisexuality, intersexuality and pansexuality, as well as transsexuality, can all be reasons for fleeing. Queer refugees usually face imprisonment or even death in their home countries, in addition to stigmatisation and discrimination. Often, even after their dangerous journey to Europe, those affected face the same threats because they are not adequately protected. This has been recognised in Berlin, where politicians and social workers have collaborated to create the first facilities specifically designed for queer refugees. These services are intended to meet the special protection needs of queer refugees. This work provides an insight and overview of the history of homosexuality and transsexuality and what it means to be queer in the 'here and now'. It offers a starting point for counselling queer refugees, concluding with an overview of innovations in the field of acceptance and tolerance of homosexuals and transsexuals around the world.