LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network (LGBT-FAN)

Background and Programs

The LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network formed in June 2012 during a meeting at the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference, initially coordinated by the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM) with support from the Human Rights Campaign’s Religion and Faith Program, TransFaith, and the Unitarian Universalist Association’s United Nations Office. In December 2014, the group changed its name from the “LGBT Faith and Asylum Network” to the “LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network” to accommodate broader partnerships beyond faith-based entities. Bylaws were adopted in November 2014, establishing a formal membership model and steering committee. Participants included asylum seekers, asylees, LGBT activists, faith leaders, community center staff, policy experts, scholars, and refugee resettlement workers. ^{2  3}

LGBT-FAN facilitated information sharing and community building for those fleeing persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The network educated the LGBT community on asylum requirements and trained immigration professionals on LGBT issues. Key outputs included the 2015 guide, “Stronger Together: A Guide to Supporting LGBT Asylum Seekers,” developed with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the National LGBTQ Task Force, which detailed best practices for service providers. The group maintained regional resource lists for support in areas like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., highlighting local organizations for housing, legal aid, and integration. ^{2  4}

Financials

The LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network operated as a fiscally sponsored project of Alliance for Global Justice. ¹

In 2024, the Alliance for Global Justice reported revenues of $6,707,856, with expenses of $8,818,230, resulting in a net income of -$2,110,374. Net assets stood at $9,056,868, supported by total assets of $9,058,695 against liabilities of $1,827. Contributions formed the bulk of revenue at $6,428,828, or 95.8 percent of the total. Other salaries and wages accounted for $3,519,770 in expenses, representing 39.9 percent of total outlays. ⁵

People

As of 2025, Eric Scharf was listed as treasurer on the steering committee for the LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network. He previously worked as president of Kelsey Consulting for 13 years, a firm that assists organizations with business process improvement and governance. He has served as advocacy and outreach coordinator for Center Global, a D.C.-based LGBT asylum support program. ^{6  7}

As of 2025, Rochelle A. Fortier Nwadibia was listed as a member of the steering committee for the LGBT Freedom and Asylum Network. At the time, Nwadibia was working as an international human rights attorney representing asylum seekers and migrants in proceedings before U.S. appellate courts and the Department of Homeland Security. Fortier Nwadibia litigates cases involving equal pay, sexual harassment, and racial discrimination. She has held positions on boards and committees such as the Missouri Commission for Human Rights, No Bully, the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco, the AIDS Legal Referral Panel of San Francisco, and the First Unitarian Universalist Association of San Francisco Guardian Group. ^{6  8}