Seeking Sanctuary

Oral History Project

Seeking Sanctuary is an oral history project documenting the work of the LGBTIQ ministry at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Braamfontein. Established in 2009, the LGBTIQ ministry provides a safe and inclusive space for LGBTIQ migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in need of spiritual and/or
psychosocial support. Holy Trinity’s commitment to providing pastoral care to people on the margins – particularly those facing violence because of their sexuality, gender, ethnicity and/or documentation status – marks it out as a unique site in South Africa’s religious landscape. 

Seeking Sanctuary aims to celebrate Holy Trinity’s contribution to human rights by preserving the memories and reflections of those involved with the LGBTIQ ministry (including group members, the organising committee, the parish leadership and the broader church community).
As well as charting the evolution of the LGBTIQ ministry, the project seeks to document the lived experiences of LGBTIQ migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and to better understand how these individuals navigate state structures, develop livelihood strategies and form solidarity networks.

Seeking Sanctuary is a collaborative project between Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action (Gala) and the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS).