Employment discrimination of the LGTBIQ+ migrant population: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: This paper is a scoping review that aims to explore the scientific evidence in relation to employment discrimination suffered by LGTBIQ+ migrants. Design/methodology/approach: Following a search in the electronic databases PsycINFO, SCOPUS and WOS, 89 studies were obtained. It has been conducted using PRISMA protocol and applied to an initial corpus of 89 academic texts. Having implemented the suitability, screening and inclusion criteria, this corpus was refined to a sample of four articles. These were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Findings: Despite the scarce scientific evidence on the subject, we can affirm that power dynamics place migrant LGTBIQ+ people in a clearly disadvantaged position with regard to labour integration. The simultaneous ascription to the multiple groups analysed entails the experience of facing double or triple discrimination. Research limitations/implications: The review highlights the need for more research on LGTBIQ+ migrant issues across various contexts and sectors. It suggests detailed analysis of homophobia and homophilia in different areas, visibility of good practices and exploration of coping strategies like de-transitioning. The sample of people investigated could be extended to other acronyms of the collective. Scaling up research would also be useful to compensate for the methodological limitations of the studies. For example, the hypothesis that the cultural sector is more inclusive with real job offers could be taken up. Practical implications: The review highlights the need for comprehensive policy interventions to prevent stigmatisation, ensure healthcare access and recognize the rights of marginalized populations. It calls for intersectional approaches in employment and migration policies to address multiple oppressions faced by LGTBIQ+ migrants. The review also recommends revising foreigner regulations to reduce barriers for refugees, ensuring cultural and gender diversity in transit spaces and reinforcing anti-discrimination legislation to guarantee rights and reduce social exclusion. In addition, it would be advisable to reduce waiting times for the resolution of applications and ensure that spaces they are forced to transit are favourable to gender diversity. Social implications: The review emphasizes the importance of awareness-raising strategies to counteract exclusionary narratives and promote empathy towards LGTBIQ+ migrants. It advocates for training resources for healthcare, legal professionals and civil servants and inclusion programmes in workplaces. It suggests following principles of new narratives to foster inclusive perceptions and safe spaces and calls for institutional commitments to diversity and inclusion to challenge discrimination and hierarchical exclusion structures. Originality/value: It is necessary to approach this phenomenon through the prism of intersectionality in order to understand it and to develop appropriate intervention strategies and policy formulation leading to the eradication of discrimination and the reduction of inequalities in the work environment.