The construction of “LGBTI refugees” in France: the paradox of protection and restriction

Over the last decade, French asylum authorities have developed a set of specific policies for the processing of asylum claims related to sexual orientation and gender identity which has led to the de facto construction of the administrative category of “LGBTI refugees.” Amidst the broader trend of increasing restrictions on migration in general, and restrictions impacting asylum seekers in particular, the question arises as to why French authorities expanded the scope of refugee protection to include LGBTI asylum seekers? Following a historical neo-institutionalist approach, this paper seeks to unravel this paradox, aiming to explain why and how the “LGBTI refugees” category emerged in France. I argue that the emergence of the LGBTI refugee category cannot be solely attributed to international or EU influence, but rather emerges from a national translation process integrated within the broader transnational European and global system.