Jannat is a trans woman, activist and artist originally from Lahore, Pakistan. For years, her life was rooted in public visibility and resistance — organizing, advocating, and creating space for trans joy in a country where being openly transgender can be dangerous.
“I spent many years fighting for the rights of trans people back home, from organizing the first Trans Pride Pride in Pakistan in 2018 to advocating for legal protections within our legislature,” she shares.
For a time, there was cautious hope. Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018, offered legal recognition of self-identified gender and opened pathways to identity documents, employment, healthcare, and public participation. But that progress began to unravel.
In May 2023, Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court ruled that key provisions of the Act, including legal recognition of gender identity, were “against Islamic injunctions,” stripping away protections many transgender people relied on for safety and dignity. Human rights organizations and trans activists warned that the ruling weakened legal safeguards, leaving trans people more vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and violence. In its wake, many cases of abuse went unreported, as legal recourse and recognition disappeared.
Jannat felt the impact firsthand and her visibility came at a cost. As anti-LGBTQI+ laws, stigma, and violence intensified, Jannat became increasingly unsafe. “Because of my visibility and activism, I began to face increasing threats to my safety,” she says. “With the support of Rainbow Railroad, I was able to relocate to Toronto, Canada, where I continue my work while rebuilding my life in a place that offers relative safety and space for freedom of expression.”
Across the world, LGBTQI+ people are being criminalized simply for who they are — forced to flee not because they choose to leave, but because staying could mean imprisonment, violence, or death. Jannat’s story reflects a growing global crisis of forced displacement driven by anti-trans legislation and persecution.
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Rebuilding, Creating, Belonging
In Canada, Jannat has begun the complex work of rebuilding. Safety did not instantly erase loss, grief, or uncertainty, but it did make room for healing and growth.
“I’ve become more compassionate not just with others, but with myself,” Jannat reflects. “Starting anew in Canada showed me that healing and building can happen together, even when life feels uncertain.”
Over the past year, moments of pride and resilience have stood out. Being named Trans Ambassador for Pride Toronto allowed her to bring joy to the trans community during public celebrations. She also represented queer refugee voices in policy spaces, including advocacy at the Canadian Council for Refugees.
“I felt especially proud when I saw my art and activism bring people together, especially with Pride Toronto, and community performances that fused my kathak storytelling dance,” she says. “It reminded me that visibility can be powerful when it uplifts others.”
Yet challenges remain. “The hardest part has been rebuilding a sense of stability while still grieving the safety I lost in Pakistan,” Jannat shares. “I miss family, familiar rhythms, and the direct work with my community back home.”
“Home has transformed from a physical place to a state of belonging,” she adds. “Canada is a home of opportunity and safety, but my heart still carries Pakistan. Home now holds both pain and possibility.”
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A New Year and an Urgent Call to Act
As the new year begins, Jannat carries both hope and determination. “I’m hopeful for more community spaces where queer refugees can thrive, where art, culture, and advocacy meet healing and safety,” she says. She is determined to “use my voice to build platforms for trans and queer refugees, spaces where their stories are not just heard but celebrated. Therapy through dance.”
For Jannat, safety today is deeply personal and profoundly political. “Feeling safe means I can walk outside as my authentic self without fear, speak openly without threat, and create without compromise,” she explains. “It means my identity is respected and protected not just legally, but socially.”
She wants the world to understand that refugee journeys do not end at arrival. “It’s not just about reaching safety, it’s about rebuilding identity, staying connected with roots, culture, and belonging, which takes time, compassion, and care from everyone around us.”
And she offers this reminder: “Trans refugees are not just stories of pain — we are artists, teachers, dreamers, and community builders. And when we rise, we rise together.”
As anti-LGBTQI+ laws continue to force people to flee their homes, stories like Jannat’s underscore both the urgency of this crisis and the power of solidarity. Your support helps ensure that trans and queer people facing persecution can reach safety, and rebuild their lives with dignity.
Donate today to help LGBTQI+ refugees find safety, community, and hope in the year ahead.