Issues

On May 26, 2023, the Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, one of the most extreme pieces of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in the world. Consensual same-sex intimacy bears a penalty of life in prison. In addition,...

Advocating for governments to create more pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ refugees has always been an essential part of our work. Governments have the power to help LGBTQI+ people seeking safety, and therefore, Rainbow Railroad consistently calls on governments...

This report outlines the verification process for Human Rights Defender (HRD) cases by Rainbow Railroad intake caseworkers. This document describes how Rainbow Railroad’s vetting process aligns with the HRD stream’s definitions and criteria for referral....

The Canadian government has established a dedicated refugee stream for human rights defenders (HRDs) for resettlement to Canada, and is exploring the possibility of opening this stream to credible non-governmental organizations such as Rainbow Railroad...

In addressing global LGBTQI+ persecution and forced displacement, Rainbow Railroad relies on a large network of partners who support our mission, rather than on branded field offices which would pose a risk to our staff and the people we serve, given...

Two years after a landmark decision from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urging the Jamaican government to repeal the country’s homophobic laws, Rainbow Railroad and the Human Dignity Trust call on Jamaica to immediately comply with...

In 2023 so far, Rainbow Railroad has received 117 requests for help from Jamaica. Members of the LGBTQI+ community in Jamaica experience persistent discrimination and violence on the basis of their identities.  Earlier this year, Rainbow Railroad staff...

In the wake of our ongoing work in Afghanistan, we have some important news to share. Today, we can confirm that Rainbow Railroad will be able to facilitate the resettlement of approximately 600 LGBTQI+ Afghans in partnership with the Government...

Rainbow Railroad is announcing the launch of a new, historic partnership with the Government of Canada, allowing for more LGBTQI+ refugees to safely resettle in Canada.  On June 8, the Government of Canada announced a landmark partnership with Rainbow...

This week a new legislative assault has been launched against LGBTQI+ rights in Uganda. Although same sex intimacy has been criminalized in Uganda over the past decade, the Ugandan government has made repeated attempts to further entrench and exacerbate...

Vulnerable LGBTQI+ Afghan refugees need additional targeted and expedited resettlement pathways. We propose two policy mechanisms the government can activate to make this happen: 1. We ask the Minister of Immigration to use their authority under Section...

Rainbow Railroad Rainbow Railroad calls on the U.S. Government to expedite access for LGBTQI+ persons to refugee status determination (RSD) procedures on U.S. territory. This is a critical action which will demonstrably help LGBTQI+ asylum seekers currently...