Rainbow Railroad launches 2024 annual report, a powerful reflection of the impact we’ve made together over the past year, and a call to action as we look ahead.
We're proud to share Rainbow Railroad’s 2024 Annual Report: Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution, a powerful reflection of the impact we’ve made together over the past year, and a call to action as we look ahead.
The Annual Report serves as one of the only published data sources on LGBTQI+ forced displacement in the world. In 2021, we began publishing our proprietary data to map the state of global LGBTQI+ persecution according to our requests for help. This report has since become a critical document in the LGBTQI+ forced displacement sector, used by academics, civil society organizations, and government actors as a key tool in policy development and advocacy for LGBTQI+ refugees.
Long-term relationship-building with states, UN agencies, and international organizations has allowed us to disseminate our data and share our expertise on the world stage. Rainbow Railroad is well connected to a global network of LGBTQI+ organizations and rights defenders. This unique position allows us to elevate the voices of the individuals we serve and the partners we work alongside, to drive systemic change at a global level.
In 2024, Rainbow Railroad received more than 13,000 requests for help from LGBTQI+ people around the world. This figure is more than just data: it’s a stark indicator of the growing need for safety among those facing state-sponsored violence, criminalization, and persecution simply because of who they are or who they love.
Last year, we provided support to 5,916 individuals across our program areas. Our work encompassed emergency travel support and in-country assistance, advocating for inclusive asylum pathways, building long-term partnerships in regions of highest need, and more. Behind each number in the report is a story of resilience: individuals who dared to seek freedom, and communities that stood with them.
The 2024 Annual Report highlights the realities of this global crisis, and the role Rainbow Railroad, and our community of supporters, play in meeting it head-on with compassion, resolve, and action. We invite you to read the report, reflect on the progress we’ve made, and continue standing in solidarity with LGBTQI+ people worldwide.