‘A Future I Could Not Fully See, But Knew I Had to Step Into’: Nazhyme’s Journey to Safety

Before boarding the plane to the Netherlands, Nazhyme recalls feeling tense about many things, including, most significantly, whether his daughter could tolerate the more than 12-hour journey ahead. But miraculously, he slept. 

“It was almost like sleeping while holding my breath, as if I was trying to store rest in my body while everything inside me was still tense,” Nazhyme, who is transmasculine, says. “I did not know when I would feel safe enough to rest again, so I took it then.”

Nazhyme relocated to the Netherlands in 2024 to escape persecution in his home country of Jamaica. He initially reached out to Rainbow Railroad two years earlier, after his gender identity and activism started to pose a risk for his family, escalating to the point where he had to abandon his house and move from Airbnb to Airbnb. 

While he is thankful for the support US-based nonprofits provided during this time of immediate need, it was clear to him that his family needed to leave to ensure his children had the stability they deserved. “The months leading up to my relocation were intense, emotional, and filled with both urgency and uncertainty,” he says. “I was trying to hold everything together while preparing for a future I could not fully see, but knew I had to step into.”  

Life in the Netherlands 

Now that he has a residence permit, Nazhyme feels hopeful about the opportunity to build a home in a place where he can continue his advocacy work — this time without the same risks. 

The freedom to work in and for the LGBTQI+ community is Nazhyme’s favorite thing about the Netherlands thus far. “I get to be a part of change. I get to go inside different asylum centers and speak to refugees about their trauma and help them to understand what their triggers are,” he says. “Jump[ing] back into volunteering fills me, it keeps me going.”

Some of the highlights of the past year include conducting workshops on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia for the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, participating in a Trans Day of Visibility event, and representing other asylum seekers like himself. There are also tender interactions that have moved him to tears: being shown a private restroom when he felt conflicted about what bathroom to use, the kindness he was met with upon his asylum declaration, and more. 

“Resettlement is not just about relocation,” he says. “It's about rebuilding a sense of self, safety, and belonging. And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as someone noticing you, understanding you, and quietly showing you where you belong.”

Reflecting on His LGBTQI+ Ancestors 

For Nazhyme, Pride evokes feelings of “joy, shared community, and belonging.” Seeing it as a space where he’s not only “accepted” but “celebrated,” Pride functions as a feeling and space where he remembers that he can exist fully and apologetically. 

Rainbow Railroad’s theme for this year’s Pride campaign, Solidarity in Pride: Then. Now. Always., deeply resonates with him. He reflects on the freedoms that he is able to have thanks to the strides made by those that came before him. “There were people who believed I deserved to be here, to be safe, to be seen, and to be loved. Some of them gave their lives to make that possible,” he says. 

Looking ahead to the future, he commits to creating a world that is more compassionate and resilient than what he inherited. 

You can help Rainbow Railroad support other families like Nazhyme's this Pride. Consider donating to us this month as we continue to support generations of LGBTQI+ people to come.