Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI) is a project to create an international network to advance protection and solutions for LGBTQI+ people in forced displacement. To lay the groundwork for this network, from 2024-2025 Rainbow Railroad is co-facilitating a series of global roundtable consultations with civil society organizations, people with lived experience of forced displacement, and state and humanitarian actors. The consultations aim to provide a snapshot of the local context in key transit countries for LGBTQI+ migrants across Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The collective data and findings emerging from each consultative roundtable will be used to directly inform the design, focus and function of this multi-stakeholder network, which aims to be launched at the end of 2025.
This report summarizes key themes, findings and recommendations from the first in this series of roundtables, held in Mexico City, Mexico from September 5th-6th, 2024, organized in partnership with Casa Frida, Refugio LGBTIQ+.
Over the course of two-days, participants identified a number of key challenges faced by LGBTQI+ migrants and refugees. Notably, xenophobic and anti-LGBTQI+ discrimination at the interpersonal, structural, and systemic levels create significant barriers for LGBTQI+ individuals in safely accessing essential services such as healthcare, shelter, housing, food, and employment. Participants also highlighted the need to enhance the security of individuals, combat human rights violations, and enhance access to justice. The following recommendations emerged in response to these challenges.
You can read the full report below or download the report here.