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Over the years, research on immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers has been rooted in hetero- and cisnormative discourse that has not only rendered these individuals invisible but also led to a lack of understanding of what they need to successfully integrate into host societies. However, as significant numbers of sexual and gender minority (SGM) people continue to migrate from their countries of origin to various countries around the world, SGM migration can no longer be viewed as a niche area, but one that is placed front and center in migration studies and current discourse on immigration. To provide context for the articles, books, and chapters in this article, it is important to discuss the differences among the terms: immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeker. An immigrant is a broad term used to describe someone who permanently moves to a foreign country. A refugee refers to an individual who flees their country of origin due to persecution; however, refugees are vetted prior to entering the host country while waiting in a country of transit. For example, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees might vet SGM individuals in Turkey before sending them to Canada. An asylum seeker also flees their country of origin due to persecution but is vetted after entering the host country. For instance, an SGM individual may enter the United States on a student or tourist visa, but then decide to seek asylum because they fear returning to their country of origin. The other term that is commonly used is migrant, which refers to an individual who moves from one place to another, either temporarily or permanently, in search of better work opportunities or social conditions. While domestic migration does occur often, this review focuses specifically on international migrants (i.e., those who move to a foreign country). The term migrant is used interchangeably with immigrant, refugee, or asylum seeker. Although these categories are technically different, it can be hard to distinguish among these socially constructed categories, as the experiences of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers share many commonalities during the pre-migration, travel, and resettlement phases, as will be evidenced in the works discussed in this article.

This chapter aims to provide a critical review of the literature that addresses the ways in which sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) with migration experience navigate mental health issues. There has been a recent growth in public interest and scholarship in Canada and the United States about the realities of SGMs with migration experience. However, there are scholarly debates and tensions in relation to how key terms related to sexuality, gender, and migration have been mobilized within this field of knowledge. This chapter thus aims to map out the ways in which knowledge about SGMs with migration experience has been categorized through migrant status, race, and ethnicity. In addition, this chapter provides a synthesis of the latest research findings on the relationship between this population and mental health issues. This chapter also critically reflects on various policy and practice implications of these findings and considers future directions for content, theories, and methodologies of research about this population.