BRADLEY SECKER
-Photojournalist

Wael cuddles his cat after returning home from work. .
Intersex children are often assigned a legal gender at birth by their parents, which later doesn’t correspond to their true identity.

Wael is intersex, and identifies as a transgender man, originally from Casablanca in Morocco He left his beloved homeland for Norway, for the purpose of changing his legal gender to male, and to start hormone
(testosterone) therapy.
He works in part time in a tango dance club, staffing the reception. Having successfully changed his legal gender on his Norwegian refugee documents, Wael is keen to have top surgery and complete his physical transition, before returning to Morocco in the future. 

Fearing for his life after deportation from Russia, Ali instead flew to Berlin, where she claimed asylum, and now lives with his cats, rebuilding their lives in their new home and city.

Shayma (right) discusses the upcoming evening’s performance and hosting of a drag contest with the club manager, (left) at a popular queer night spot in Heidelberg, Germany. Shayma identifies as non binary and uses they/them pronouns.

Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation and safety in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism and identity. Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe.

Bella (right), practising her DJ set alongside her husband Emil (left). Bella is from Turkey and now lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Bella is currently claiming asylum in Sweden, due to her gender identity. She is as a transgender woman, and after having her initial asylum request denied by the Swedish authorities, she went on hunger strike

Sergi (left) and Igor (right) are from Odessa, Ukraine.
Here they share a quiet moment together whilst visiting a church in their new hometown of Besançon, eastern France. 
After being attacked by a mob and authorities in their hometown of Odessa, southern Ukraine, following a pride march, the couple left for France, where they were granted political asylum due to the dangers they face because of their sexuality as gay men, and their activism in Ukraine 

Shayma (left) does final hair & makeup touch-ups before hosting a drag event at a popular queer night spot in Heidelberg, Germany, whilst another drag queen uses the toilet (right).
Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism. 
Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe. . 

Toirov Shohjahon from Uzbekistan, is a gay activist claiming asylum in Sweden.

Shohjahon also works with ‘Rainbow Refugees’ as a secretary, as the NGO helps to assist others claiming asylum and refuge in Sweden due to reasons connected with their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Parisa is from the island of Kish, in the south of Iran, in the Persian Gulf. She now lives in Aarhus, Denmark. This book is one of her religious study bible guides. .

Hamoudi smoking a cigarette at a gay club in Berlin, Germany.

city.

ISIS, and faced physical and psychological torture.

Since moving to Berlin in October 2014, Hamoudi has worked in culture, and more recently with an organisation helping to rebuild society in Raqqa post-ISIS occupation.

Mir drinking a glass of wine at his former work place - a popular waterfront bar/restaurant in central Stockholm, Sweden.

Mir is from Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, and has been granted political asylum in Sweden due to dangers he faced through his work with ‘Boys Of Bangladesh’, an LGBTİ activist and social group in the country. Mir is a gay man, something classed as illegal in his home country.

Militants from the so-called Islamic State murdered two of the activist groups members at their homes in Dhaka, causing the others to flee abroad or go into hiding locally.

Orientalist carpet, Aarhus, Denmark. Parisa is from the island of Kish, in Iran’s Persian Gulf. She now lives in Aarhus, Denmark. — Parisa received political asylum in Denmark due to her sexuality, which she describes as fluid. She’s attending Danish language classes, is an active member of the LGBTİ community, focused particularly on helping and highlighting issues affecting LGBTİ asylum seekers. — Parisa is also a trainee priest, and attends church every Sunday in her neighbourhood, which is listed by the Danish authorities as a ‘ghetto’.

Faris, 35 (right) goes through their lines and the topics to be covered, prior to recording a video with their housemate Noël (left), at home in Vienna, Austria. .
Faris decided not to return to his home in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia whilst at an LGBTİ conference in Austria. .
Continuing to be vocal about the violence and attacks on the LGBTİ communities in Ethiopia, Faris who identifies as non-binary (using they/them pronouns) works at an organisation helping and advising other LGBTİ asylum seekers and refugees in the Austrian capital. 

Parisa is from the island of Kish, in Iran’s Persian Gulf. She now lives in Aarhus, Denmark.
//—
Parisa received political asylum in Denmark due to her sexuality, which she describes as bi-fluid. She’s attending Danish language classes, is an active member of the LGBTİ community, focused particularly on helping and highlighting issues affecting LGBTİ asylum seekers.
—//
Parisa is also a trainee priest, and attends church every Sunday in her neighbourhood, which is listed by the Danish authorities as a ‘ghetto’. 

Makeup brushes laid out to dry, on Shayma’s radiator, in their flat in Heidelberg, Germany.
Shayma is a Tunisian drag queen, performer, human rights activist, and refugee in Germany. They were granted asylum in Germany for their sexual identity, as non binary, gay, and the risks Shayma faced in Tunisia due to their work to highlight the issues affecting sexual minorities.
Through drag, Shayma challenges the stereotypes surrounding refugees and asylum seekers in Europe, and uses the visibility and platform to speak about human rights abuses, and social issues, and of course makes crowds laugh.  

Ali, a journalist from Uzbekistan, identifies as non-binary, and now lives in Berlin, Germany. (Ali uses alternating she/he pronouns).
Having lived in Moscow for many years, Ali was threatened with deportation to Uzbekistan due to her activism as an LGBTİ rights campaigner, journalist, and also because of his sexual identity.
Fearing for his life after deportation from Russia, Ali instead flew to Berlin, where she claimed asylum, and now lives with his cats, rebuilding their lives in their new home and city.  

Turkey, Istanbul. 2013 - Istanbul Pride March along Istiklal Street, a main avenue in the heart of the city. Mahmoud (in pink) documents two gay Syrians holding both Syrian regime and Syrian opposition flags (rear right), to state that all sides of the Syrian conflict are homophobic, and against the rights of sexual minorities. After years of living in Turkey, Mahmoud moved to Berlin, Germany in 2014, and is now a German citizen, continuing to work with LGBTI+ asylum seekers and refugees in Berlin. Mahmoud is from Salamiyah, Syria, and now lives in Berlin, Germany, where he was granted political asylum due to his work as a journalist and LGBTI rights advocate, and the targeted risks and threats he faced because of his identity and his work. Syria’s most prominent LGBTI blogger (under a pseudonym) for many, many years, and a print and radio journalist covering culture, politics, and Syria’s ongoing conflict, Mahmoud now works at a centre providing support and counselling, for LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees in Berlin. Europe, Turkey, Istanbul. 2013 - Istanbul Pride March along Istiklal Street, a main avenue in the heart of the city. Mahmoud (in pink) documents two gay Syrians holding both Syrian regime and Syrian opposition flags (rear right), to state that all sides of the Syrian conflict are homophobic, and against the rights of sexual minorities. After years of living in Turkey, Mahmoud moved to Berlin, Germany in 2014, and is now a German citizen, continuing to work with LGBTI+ asylum seekers and refugees in Berlin. Mahmoud is from Salamiyah, Syria, and now lives in Berlin, Germany, where he was granted political asylum due to his work as a journalist and LGBTI rights advocate, and the targeted risks and threats he faced because of his identity and his work. Syria’s most prominent LGBTI blogger (under a pseudonym) for many, many years, and a print and radio journalist covering culture, politics, and Syria’s ongoing conflict, Mahmoud now works at a centre providing support and counselling, for LGBTI asylum seekers and refugees in Berlin

Shayma’s  breasts, lashes, clothes and some makeup on their bed at home, preparing before hosting a drag event at a popular queer night spot in Heidelberg, Germany.
Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism. 
Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe. 

Toirov Shohjahon from Uzbekistan, is a gay activist claiming asylum in Sweden.

After initially being refused asylum in Sweden, and told to return to Poland - where he entered the EU, he is currently waiting out an 18 month time period where he must stay off the radar of Swedish authorities, in order to reset the Dublin 2 treaty rules, and qualify to make his asylum claim in Sweden, where he currently lives.

Shohjahon also works with ‘Rainbow Refugees’ as a secretary, as the NGO helps to assist others claiming asylum and refuge in Sweden due to reasons connected with their sexuality and/or gender identity.

Berlin's memorial to the homosexual victims of the holocaust, on the edge of the Tiergarten park in central Berlin, Germany. The concrete block streams a film, visible when looking through the single window - it alternates between two male lovers kissing, and more recently two female lovers kissing. 

Mahmoud Hassino, sleeping on the sofa at a Palestinian friend's home in Istanbul, Turkey. Mahmoud Hassino is from Syria, and now lives in Berlin, Germany, where he was granted political asylum due to his work as a journalist and LGBTI rights advocate.

Mir Reyad in Stockholm, Sweden. Mir is from Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, and has been granted political asylum in Sweden due to dangers he faced through his work with ‘Boys Of Bangladesh’, an LGBTİ activist and social group in the country. Mir is a gay man, something classed as illegal in his home country. He now plays badminton on the Swedish national LGBT+ team Militants from the so-called Islamic State murdered two of the activist groups members at their homes in Dhaka, causing the others to flee abroad or go into hiding locally. Now working as a chef in a hotel, and planning to retrain as a nurse, Mir has been living in Sweden for 5 years

A sign for the U-bahn (underground metro) in Vienna, Austria's capital, with some graffiti saying "U are gay" or "Are U gay". Vienna is the new home for several of the LGBTI refugees included in Gayropa, and home to many more not included in this project.

Shayma’s legs whilst on stage hosting a drag event at a popular queer night spot in Heidelberg, Germany. Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism.

Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe

Wael is an intersex trans man from Casablanca, Morocco. . He now lives in Bergen, western Norway, where he was given asylum and able to change his legal gender on official documents from female (assigned to him at birth) to male. . Wael watches TV at home whilst his recently

Wael (centre) working at the reception of a tango dancing club in Bergen, Norway. Wael is an intersex trans man from Casablanca, Morocco. . He now lives in Bergen, western Norway, where he was given asylum and able to change his legal gender on official documents from female (assigned to him at birth) to male.   He now lives in Bergen, western Norway, where he was given asylum and able to change his legal gender on official documents from female (assigned to him at birth) to male. 

Mahmoud Hassino, a prominent Syrian journalist, anti-regime activist and now social worker in Berlin. Here he works on designing 'Mawaleh' - Syria's first and only LGBT digital magazine, in 2013, in his home in Antakya, Hatay province, southern Turkey - bordering his native Syria, where he often worked for international media as a producer, translator and journalist

WAEL At birth, intersex children — who are born with several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, sex hormones or genitals that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies — are often assigned a legal gender by their parents. But in some cases, they find later in life that it doesn’t correspond to their own sense of identity. Wael, who is intersex, is registered as female on official documents in his home country of Morocco, but identifies as a transgender man. Because changing one's gender is illegal in Morocco, Wael decided to claim asylum in Europe in order to change his legal gender and start testosterone therapy. He settled in Norway in 2016, but only began hormone therapy, a fundamental part of his transition, in May. Waiting times for appointments are long, he says, and only a small number of doctors deal with gender identity issues. He regularly has to travel by overnight train from his home in Bergen to Norway's capital, Oslo, just to see a doctor, as there aren’t any specialists in Bergen. Wael is registered and resettled in Bergen, home to many of Norway’s LGBTQ asylum seekers, after spending time in various refugee camps across Norway. Having successfully changed his legal gender in his Norwegian documents, Wael is keen to have top surgery and complete his transition, before eventually moving back to Morocco. WAEL At birth, intersex children — who are born with several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, sex hormones or genitals that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies — are often assigned a legal gender by their parents. But in some cases, they find later in life that it doesn’t correspond to their own sense of identity. Wael, who is intersex, is registered as female on official documents in his home country of Morocco, but identifies as a transgender man. Because changing one's gender is illegal in Morocco, Wael decided to claim asylum in Europe in order to change his legal gender and start testosterone therapy. He settled in Norway in 2016, but only began hormone therapy, a fundamental part of his transition, in May. Waiting times for appointments are long, he says, and only a small number of doctors deal with gender identity issues. He regularly has to travel by overnight train from his home in Bergen to Norway's capital, Oslo, just to see a doctor, as there aren’t any specialists in Bergen. Wael is registered and resettled in Bergen, home to many of Norway’s LGBTQ asylum seekers, after spending time in various refugee camps across Norway. Having successfully changed his legal gender in his Norwegian documents, Wael is keen to have top surgery and complete his transition, before eventually moving back to Morocco.

Shayma, in the old castle grounds of Heidelberg, Germany, where they now live. Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism.

Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe

Fearing for his lifeafter deportation from Russia, Ali instead flew to Berlin, where she claimed asylum, and now lives with his cats, rebuilding their lives in their new home and city.

Fearing for his lifeafter deportation from Russia, Ali instead flew to Berlin, where she claimed asylum, and now lives with his cats, rebuilding their lives in their new home and city.

A rainbow painted bench in the Danish city of Aarhus, where Parisa from Iran, and many other LGBTI+ asylum seekers and refugees have relocated to and now call home. 

Wael sleeping on an overnight train from Bergen, to Oslo, Norway's capital, to receive hormone therapy at the country's only hospital specialised in trans and intersex issues.  At birth, intersex children — who are born with several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, sex hormones or genitals that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies — are often assigned a legal gender by their parents. But in some cases, they find later in life that it doesn’t correspond to their own sense of identity. Wael, who is intersex, is registered as female on official documents in his home country of Morocco, but identifies as a transgender man. Because changing one's gender is illegal in Morocco, Wael decided to claim asylum in Europe in order to change his legal gender and start testosterone therapy. He settled in Norway in 2016, but only began hormone therapy, a fundamental part of his transition, in May. Waiting times for appointments are long, he says, and only a small number of doctors deal with gender identity issues. He regularly has to travel by overnight train from his home in Bergen to Norway's capital, Oslo, just to see a doctor, as there aren’t any specialists in Bergen. Wael is registered and resettled in Bergen, home to many of Norway’s LGBTQ asylum seekers, after spending time in various refugee camps across Norway. Having successfully changed his legal gender in his Norwegian documents, Wael is keen to have top surgery and complete his transition, before eventually moving back to Morocco. WAEL At birth, intersex children — who are born with several variations in sex characteristics including chromosomes, sex hormones or genitals that do not fit the typical definitions of male or female bodies — are often assigned a legal gender by their parents. But in some cases, they find later in life that it doesn’t correspond to their own sense of identity. Wael, who is intersex, is registered as female on official documents in his home country of Morocco, but identifies as a transgender man. Because changing one's gender is illegal in Morocco, Wael decided to claim asylum in Europe in order to change his legal gender and start testosterone therapy. He settled in Norway in 2016, but only began hormone therapy, a fundamental part of his transition, in May. Waiting times for appointments are long, he says, and only a small number of doctors deal with gender identity issues. He regularly has to travel by overnight train from his home in Bergen to Norway's capital, Oslo, just to see a doctor, as there aren’t any specialists in Bergen. Wael is registered and resettled in Bergen, home to many of Norway’s LGBTQ asylum seekers, after spending time in various refugee camps across Norway. Having successfully changed his legal gender in his Norwegian documents, Wael is keen to have top surgery and complete his transition, before eventually moving back to Morocco.

Parisa is from the island of Kish, in Iran’s Persian Gulf. She now lives in Aarhus, Denmark. 

Parisa received political asylum in Denmark due to her sexuality, which she describes as bi-fluid. She’s attending Danish language classes, is an active member of the LGBTİ community, focused particularly on helping and highlighting issues affecting LGBTİ asylum seekers.

Bella (left) with her husband Emil (right) at home in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital.

Bella is from Turkey and is currently fighting for asylum in Sweden. As a transgender woman, she felt unsafe living in Turkey, which is Europe’s highest ranking country for the murder and attack of trans women, and a shocking number of murders against women (femicide) generally. 

Despite people being legally able to change their gender in Turkey, Bella says she faces both familial and social threats to her safety and well-being.

Last year Bella went on hunger strike after her initial asylum request was denied.

Sergi, a Ukrainian gay man from the coastal city of Odessa, offering prayers to the sun on a walk in a forest, near his new hometown of Besançon, eastern France. 

Bella wipes a rainbow off her window at home in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital.

Bella is from Turkey and is currently fighting for asylum in Sweden. As a transgender woman, she felt unsafe living in Turkey, which is Europe’s highest ranking country for the murder and attack of trans women, and a shocking number of murders against women (femicide) generally.

Despite people being legally able to change their gender in Turkey, Bella says she faces both familial and social threats to her safety and well-being.

Last year Bella went on hunger strike after her initial asylum request was denied.

Balloons for Sergi's birthday. Igor and Sergi (out of shot) are from Odessa, Ukraine.

Bella at home in Stockholm, Sweden’s capital.

Bella is from Turkey and is currently fighting for asylum in Sweden. As a transgender woman, she felt unsafe living in Turkey, which is Europe’s highest ranking country for the murder and attack of trans women, and a shocking number of murders against women (femicide) generally.

Despite people being legally able to change their gender in Turkey, Bella says she faces both familial and social threats to her safety and well-being.

Last year Bella went on hunger strike after her initial asylum request was denied.

Komil is from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and now lives and works in Vienna, Austria. Volunteering each week at a discounted food store, Komil unloads bananas from a van on the outskirts of Vienna.

'Queer Base' in Vienna, Austria. The centre is  home to social and cultural activities for Vienna's LGBT+ communities, and the office of Faris, who works at the centre, focused on helping the LGBT+ refugee and asylum seeker residents of the city. Faris himself received asylum in Austria, after visiting the country for a conference, and it became clear that returning to his native Ethiopia would be life threatening. 

Khusen (right) is a fashion designer from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, now living in Vienna, Austria, with his partner Komil (left). 

Khusen (centre) is a fashion designer from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, now living in Vienna, Austria. .

In this photo, Khusen dresses models at his fashion show in Vienna last summer, during EuroPride events.

Khusen (centre) is a fashion designer from Dushanbe, Tajikistan, now living in Vienna, Austria. .

In this photo, Khusen dresses models at his fashion show in Vienna last summer, during EuroPride events.

Hamoudi exiting Hermann Platz U-bahn station Berlin, Germany, to meet friends.

city.

demonstrated against both the Syrian regime, and later ISIS, who declared his hometown the capital of their so-called Islamic Caliphate. Hamoudi was imprisoned by the regime and ISIS, and faced physical and psychological torture.

Shayma doing hair and make-up prior to going on stage hosting a drag event at a popular queer night spot in Heidelberg, Germany. Shayma is a Tunisian drag performer and long time LGBTİ activist who relocated to Germany after their situation in Tunisia became threatened, due to their activism.

Having received political asylum, Shayma now hopes to improve their German language skills, build a successful career as a drag performer, and use the platform to highlight issues, such as LGBTİ rights in Tunisia, and amongst refugees and asylum seekers, across Europe