Exiled for Existing

That the Parliament welcomes the release of the short film, Exiled for Existing, produced by media co-op in partnership with LGBT Unity and the National Library of Scotland, and with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, which had its first screening at Glasgow Film Theatre in June 2026, during Refugee Festival Scotland; understands that the film includes personal stories and reflections from refugees and asylum seekers from Nigeria, Pakistan, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Gambia and Kenya who are now living in Scotland, and who previously faced persecution and violence as a result of homophobia and transphobia; thanks them for sharing their experience and hopes that many people in Scotland will see the film and come to understand the human cost of prejudice as well as the joy and shared humanity expressed in the film as a result of the participants finding safety and welcome in Scotland; believes that the UK must do far more to ensure that people fleeing discrimination can reach the UK safely, and are treated with warmth and humanity when they do so instead of being forced into poverty, unsafe accommodation and bureaucratic misery, and commends the many organisations throughout Scotland and the UK who are working hard to offer refugees and asylum seekers the welcome they deserve.