Searching for a Safe Place: Experiences of Queer Migrants in Lithuania

Lithuania presents a dual context for studying queer migration. On the one hand, queer Lithuanians emigrate to more liberal environments; on the other, the country receives queer migrants fleeing persecution based on their sexual identity. This paper examines how intersectionality, heteronormativity, and religion shape queer migration experiences within the Lithuanian context. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with LGBTIQ+ Lithuanian emigrants and immigrants to Lithuania, the analysis highlights how sociopolitical conditions and struggles for equal LGBTIQ+ rights strongly influence migration decisions. Lithuanian migrants often move to Western countries in search of broader legal recognition and opportunities, while migrants from more homophobic regions seek basic safety in nearby European countries such as Lithuania. For Lithuanian migrants abroad, intersecting identities can sometimes facilitate integration, whereas for queer migrants in Lithuania, they often exacerbate challenges. Finally, migration trajectories and experiences are profoundly shaped by prevailing heteronormative attitudes, reinforced by religious discourse.