When Russ and Brad first met in 2003, the year was marked by a landmark Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that made the Northeastern state the first in the US to legalize marriage equality.
But despite that triumph, the decision generated a political storm of anti-LGBTQI+ sentiment that extended from coast to coast. Brad and Russ felt that firsthand when, a half-decade later, a California ballot initiative swiftly reversed a similar court decision, effectively banning same-sex marriages in the Golden State.
“We got married the year it became legal in California,” says Russ. But, “for the next few years, it was actually technically illegal in California. Though we were still married, it was unclear what our legal status was.” That experience, and their identities as two gay men, have largely shaped how the married couple shows up for their community — including as volunteers with Rainbow Railroad.
Channeling Frustration to Action: Community Support Teams
Today, Brad and Russ encompass two-fifths of Team Hollywood Depot, a US-based Community Support Team (CST). CSTs provide asylum seekers in the US and Canada with integration support for six months, serving individuals in their local region. The program’s operation in the US has filled a critical need in a region where LGBTQI+ refugees, newcomers, and asylum seekers have faced particular barriers to safety. The couple believed that the community would continue to face this problem regardless of the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
“The Trump administration was running and ramping up, and it kind of looked obvious that regardless of the outcome of the election, a lot of attention would be given to asylum seekers,” Russ says. That has proven true. Since January 2025, the United States has dismantled much of its asylum system and currently leads the list of countries where people are requesting help from Rainbow Railroad. That includes hundreds of non-citizens who are currently living in the US, but originally hail from countries such as Venezuela, Honduras, and Guatemala.
Living in a predominantly immigrant community, coupled with their own history of giving back to the LGBTQI+ community, made signing up for a CST the next natural step.
They were then matched with Noah (whose name has been changed for safety reasons) — a newcomer who spent months in ICE detention. Together, Brad and Russ have been able to channel their frustration into action, remain educated about what the actual asylum process looks like, and work to create positive experiences for those who have come to the US in search of a better life.
“I was aware of a certain level of dysfunction in the American immigration system, but boy, did I really underestimate how dysfunctional this system is,” says Brad while reflecting on what he’s learned from volunteering with Rainbow Railroad thus far. “So many of the hurdles and difficulties and challenges seem so arbitrary. So many of them are so cruel.”
Generating Hope, Joy, and A New Outlook On Life in the US
Watching Noah experience firsts in the country with so much "effervescence," they say, has given them both joy and perspective. “The fact that we're here… and frustrated with our country, thinking, ‘Why would anybody want to come here right now?’ And he's here, he's happy to be here, knowing all the risks and challenges there are politically and socially right now, but also knowing that it's worse back home is sad, but also gives me a little bit of hope.” says Russ. Being able to experience other firsts alongside Noah also feels significant. Brad points to many shared moments together: eating Korean barbecue, spending Christmas together, and even going to the beach in the middle of winter — despite the cold and foggy weather.
While their six month volunteer experience is soon coming to an end, Brad and Russ look forward to continuing to show up for Rainbow Railroad, and other organizations close to their heart.
Russ says: “This is one of those areas where you still can make a positive difference in terms of connecting and building community for those who… do need to be integrated into the world not just legally, but also socially and culturally, to help them understand the communities they are now being a part of.”
Their relationship with each other and Rainbow Railroad mirrors the longevity and strength of the LGBTQI+ community worldwide, and Rainbow Railroad’s Pride theme this year, Solidarity in Pride: Then. Now. Always.
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Rainbow Railroad launched our Community Support Team program in direct response to the dismantling of the US asylum system under the current administration. Help us continue our work and presence in the US by donating this Pride.