Rainbow Migration, a charity supporting LGBTQI+ asylum seekers, has received nearly £1 million in National Lottery funding over 2023 and 2024. The funds are designated for staffing and core operational costs, according to the charity's financial records. The organization advocates for an end to all migration detention for LGBT asylum seekers and has also engaged in political campaigning.
The charity has been vocal in its criticism of the UK's migration policies, asserting that the system is "built on the legacy of the colonial-era British Raj." In posts on its website, Rainbow Migration has made claims such as "the division of people into two sexes is rooted in colonialism, not biology" and that "transphobia is a colonial export." Additionally, a 2025 post accused the British state of harming LGBT asylum seekers to the extent that they are "metaphorically or literally killed."
Rainbow Migration assists individuals who claim to be fleeing homophobic countries by aiding them with their UK asylum applications. Under international law, individuals cannot be deported to countries where they face persecution or death, which critics argue makes it difficult to refuse asylum claims from lesbian, gay, or transgender individuals. This has led to concerns about potential exploitation of the system, with reports of law firms advising migrants on how to claim to be gay to secure asylum. The number of asylum claims from individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, or transgender rose by 90 percent between 2021 and 2023, reaching 1,400 claims, which some interpret as evidence of system abuse.
Shadow culture secretary Rebecca Paul commented that lottery money should be spent transparently and responsibly, calling it a "disgrace" that funds were used for political campaigning. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp stated that "Charities like this want to make it harder to deport illegal migrants and easier to undermine our borders."
A spokesperson for the National Lottery Community Fund defended the grant, stating, "We are proud of the work that our grant holders do to make life better for those who need it most."
Rainbow Migration was contacted for comment.