Two decades ago, a small group of activists and volunteers refused to stand by while LGBTQI+ people around the world faced persecution simply for who they are and who they love. They chose action over silence, and that decision paved the way for Rainbow Railroad.
Today, that commitment matters more than ever.
For 20 years, Rainbow Railroad stood alongside LGBTQI+ people facing violence, creating pathways to safety. Together with a global community of donors, supporters, volunteers and partners, we helped more than 65,000 individuals escape state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia.
We celebrate the courage of the people who have navigated persecution and displacement, crossed borders, started again and built lives on their own terms.
We celebrate the volunteers who have shown up, the donors who have given, and the partners who have opened doors.
And we celebrate what we have built together, not as a finish line, but as a foundation for what comes next. Because 20 years of progress does not mean the work is finished.
Around the world, queer and trans people are facing escalating persecution and forced displacement. Protections for LGBTQI+ people, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants are being eroded. Requests for help continue to reach Rainbow Railroad at record levels.
And as governments step back, critical support is becoming increasingly uncertain. This year, that left a $1 million gap in the resources needed to respond.
The need is growing. So is our resolve.
We are not looking back. We are looking forward.
Because the next 20 years will be shaped by what we choose to build now: stronger pathways to safety, stronger communities, and a future where more LGBTQI+ people can determine their own lives and futures.
For 20 years, people have shown up. Let's keep showing up.
20 years forward.