LGBT immigration

I read an article about LGBT individuals and how the immigration process is for them. I never even realized that you could get citizenship in the U.S. because of an unsafe community and individual might face in their home country. I never really thought of the U.S. being accepting of the LGBT community but I do see now that in the U.S. those who identify as LGBT or are allies can go out and protest or make their words heard. The U.S. is often seen as a land of opportunity and I think its great that people who identify as LGBT want to come here in hopes of facing less discrimination or abuse. This, however, sounds much easier than it currently is. Apparently, according to the article, many citizens who do apply are not granted citizenship because there is lack of proof on their side that proves they identify as LGBT. Another problem they face is that if the country they came from has gay bars or groups it can make the country seem like their citizens do not suffer from hate acts. Another issue that LGBT individuals may face is coming to terms with who they are. Many may come from a society where they were forced to keep their sexual identity a secret and never shared their true feelings. This can be hard to deal with especially when coming to a new country in search of a new beginning or life. This can hinder them because they have one one year to file the proper paperwork from the first day they arrive in the U.S. This can be a huge time constraint if they are looking for shelter, food, job, or whatever basic necessities they need to live. I never even knew this was an issue so the article, to me, was very informative.