An estimated 653,000 migrants from Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union settled in the UK in the period 2004-2011, and about 80,000 of them have made Scotland their home (Vargas Silva 2013; Scottish Government 2012). This recent migration has been the object of a considerable amount of research. However, this work has either neglected the role of sexuality or focused on heterosexual families. The Intimate Migrations project addresses a significant gap in our knowledge by giving voice to LGB (lesbian, gay, bisexual) migrants from the region.

Comparative research have highlighted significant differences within Europe in terms of policy and legislation towards LGB citizens: the UK is widely perceived as very liberal by European standards, while most countries from the post-socialist region are seen as ‘lagging behind’. It is often assumed that transnational migration can be liberating for LGB individuals moving towards more ‘tolerant’ societies. However, this assumption is yet to be empirically tested against migrants’ often complex motivations and experiences.

The project explores the role sexuality plays in motivations to migrate, experiences of migration and plans for long-term settlement. It aims to capture a diverse group of LGB migrants in terms of ethnicity, nationality, gender, class and migrant status, and explore how these factors may shape migrants’ experiences alongside sexuality. It investigates LGB migrants’ sense of security and belonging in home and host societies, and looks at how they construct their social networks and negotiate their multifaceted identities across them.

A focus on Scotland provides a distinctive case owing to Scotland’s devolved government and specific demographic and socio-legal context within the UK. We envisage that the project’s findings will be of interest to both academic and non-academic stakeholders: within Scotland, we are working in partnership with voluntary sector organisations supporting migrant, minority ethnic and LGBT communities. The project will also generate insights that can help us better understand the phenomenon of intra-European LGB migration, potentially applicable to the UK and to other European countries.