When queer identities are made invisible, the consequences can be devastating. My study tackles the real-life impacts of queer blindfolding and possible solutions suggested by queer refugees who are navigating forced migration in Finland.

When queer identities are made invisible, the consequences can be devastating—especially for those already navigating forced migration. In my ongoing doctoral research in the field of social work, one of the concepts I explore is referred to as ”Queer Blindfolding”: a systemic and discursive phenomenon that erases queer identities and denies the unique forms of oppression LGBTQ+ individuals experience.

This concept is present is all queer lives, but it is particularly relevant for queer refugees, whose experiences reveal critical shortcomings in how official systems and social services respond to their needs.

What Is My Research About?

My study focuses on how queer refugees (people who are LGBTQ+ and have sought asylum in Finland) navigate institutions like reception centers, municipal services, NGOs, and healthcare. The goal is to create better understanding for what needs to change within Finnish systems to ensure safer, more inclusive environments not only for queer refugees, but for queer people in general.

How Was this Co-Research Conducted?

My research involves 12 LGBTQ+ refugees who are either currently seeking asylum or have previously done so in Finland. These individuals are interviewed several times during an 18-month period (2024–2025), offering a longitudinal look into their experiences with a method of co-research. Co-research is a collaborative, participatory research approach, where participants become co-investigators. By using this method, I aim to produce more relevant and impactful results by democratizing the production of knowledge and by encouraging my co-researchers to also take part in the analysis of their experiences via both verbal and visual methods.

My co-researchers stories span a wide range of encounters—with social workers, hospital staff, immigration officials and more. To analyze these interactions, I use institutional ethnography, a method that helps highlight how everyday experiences are shaped by broader institutional structures. I’m especially looking into how organizations treat and support queer people, and how their ideas about gender and sexuality influence the way they work as I am examining the ways institutional power and the normative assumptions around sexuality and gender that affect the work of these institutions.

Examples of Real-Life Consequences of Queer Blindfolding

All co-researchers report experiencing ”queer blindfolding” across different services. This includes being:

  • Denied services they clearly needed
  • Placed in unsafe housing situations
  • Refused protection or support directly related to their LGBTQ+ identities

In many cases, their sexual orientation or gender identity wasn’t even acknowledged, let alone factored into the services they received – despite them specifically asking for their identities to be taken into account. (note that I am using pseudonyms chosen by my co-researchers)

Maria (note that I am using pseudonyms chosen by my co-researchers) a lesbian refugee granted asylum in Finland who sought support to reunite with her children, while her children remained in danger in her home country. Despite the urgency, her social worker repeatedly dismissed her cries for help, telling her she “just needs to figure it out like everyone else.” The family reunification process failed to account for the serious threats posed by the father of Maria’s children, local authorities and both parents’ families, who all targeted her children due to Maria’s sexual orientation. The situation only began to shift when Maria’s Finnish language teacher intervened.

And Jon, a gay asylum seeker, faced repeated barriers when living with his long-term partner in Finland. When Jon asked for help with officially registering Jon’s address at his partner’s home, a social worker told Jon it was ”his own business where he lives” several times. As a result, Jon was officially registered as a resident of the refugee center, which led to him receiving a reduced monthly allowance for over two years. When Jon and his partner applied for a resident’s permit based on family ties, their request was denied – officials cited Jon’s continued registration at the center, even though he had been living with his partner all this time.

Evading Queerness Deepens the Vulnerable Position and Erodes Trust in the Authorities

For queer refugees, being seen by those, with the power to help, isn’t just about identity – it’s about survival. Without recognition of their specific vulnerabilities, many are left without the safety, support, or dignity they deserve.

Findings show that social work professionals and institutions often operate with a ”difference-blind” approach – one that fails to consider how multiple forms of marginalization intersect. This can result in serious harm for queer refugees, from physical danger to emotional distress and bureaucratic exclusion.

Moving Forward: What Needs to Change?

My research doesn’t just highlight problems – it also points toward solutions. Through detailed case studies, queer refugees themselves offer practical recommendations for how Finnish social work and other institutions can evolve. My co-researchers have created practical solutions, recommendations for officials and tips for true allyship as we have work shopped these themes in our meetings. Their lived experiences make a compelling case for policy reform, training, and the urgent need for queer-affirmative practices.

Some Further Reading:

Smith, L. and Shin, R. Q. /2014) Queer blindfolding: A Case Study on Difference “Blindness” Towards Persons Who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. Journal of Homosexuality. December 2013. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2014.870846.

Söderström, I. (2024) Ulossulkevat rajat. Sosiaalityö ja pakolaistaustaiset ihmiset Suomessa. Helsingin yliopisto. Valtiotieteellisen tiedekunnan julkaisuja 256/2024. Sosiaalitieteiden tohtoriohjelma.

Author: Mimosa Puumalainen works as a doctoral researcher in the DocSoc360° doctoral education pilot at the University of Lapland. Mimosa is a social worker (M.Soc.Sc.), art therapist (EXA) and a sexual counselor who has worked in the social field for a long time from a queer perspective, especially in the field of refugee social work. Mimosa is also a longtime queer activist.