Issues

In December, Rainbow Railroad queered the system at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF). Established in the wake of the Global Compact on Refugees, and held every four years, the GRF is the world's largest gathering on refugees, bringing together representatives from states and civil society organizations to address challenges refugees face worldwide. It is a significant milestone for Rainbow Railroad, along with members of the From Borders to Belonging coalition, to have been invited to attend the GRF in 2023, and for Rainbow Railroad CEO, Kimahli Powell, to have been selected to be a part of the official Canadian Delegation.In mainstream humanitarian spaces and multilateral fora, LGBTQI+ voices are often excluded and deprioritized. In 2018, The Global Compact on Refugees notably failed to affirm protections for LGBTQI+ persons or to recognize their unique vulnerabilities. As a result of our staunch advocacy, only four years later, Rainbow Railroad was given a major platform and opportunity to elevate LGBTQI+ issues at the 2023 GRF. The Rainbow Railroad delegation attended the main plenary sessions where state officials provided remarks about their refugee pledges, and side sessions with speaker panels that dove deeper into specific refugee issues. Rainbow Railroad’s own pledge contextualized our work within the global criminalization landscape, and shared our intention to support the resettlement of additional LGBTIQ+ refugees, advocate for and create new pathways to safety, and launch an International LGBTQI+ Forced Displacement Initiative. The full pledge can be accessed by searching the GRF Database. Rainbow Railroad’s participation in the GRF spoke to the vital importance of having LGBTQI+ voices present and centered in mainstream humanitarian spaces. Rainbow Railroad Community Engagement Officer, Emma Yaaka, participated in a speaker panel in which he came out as an LGBTQI+ refugee advocate himself. In addition to attending and contributing to conversations around refugee issues, Rainbow Railroad also created LGBTQI+ spaces at the GRF to encourage and empower other LGBTQI+ activists and organizations. On the last day of the GRF, Rainbow Railroad hosted a breakfast to launch a public joint statement led by LGBTQI+ civil society organizations and supported by allied CSOs from around the world. The statement called on states to create more dedicated pathways and programs to help LGBTQI+ people who are at risk of persecution. The statement was also circulated to and signed by many LGBTQI+ organizations notably not present or invited to the GRF to ensure that their voices were heard. The full statement, which has been signed by nearly 80 organizations, can be read here.At a panel event, Rainbow Railroad CEO Kimahli Powell also provided an intervention on the world stage where he called on states to recognize LGBTQI+ criminalization as a force of displacement, elevated the joint statement, and shared Rainbow Railroad’s pledge to launch the LGBTQI+ Forced Displacement Initiative.Recognizing the unique expertise of LGBTQI+ global civil society is essential to addressing issues of forced displacement. While Rainbow Railroad’s presence at the GRF represented a historic milestone, in order for these spaces to truly develop durable solutions, LGBTQI+ and refugee-led organizations must be included and centred.Read the full joint statement here.

In many countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face extreme levels of violence and ostracization from their families, the state, and their communities. Rainbow Railroad responds directly to the intersection of global forced displacement and LGBTQI+ persecution, helping at-risk LGBTQI+ people move to safer countries.  But, what happens after Rainbow Railroad facilitates the journey of an LGBTQI+ person to a safer country like Canada? While the immediate threat to their safety may be gone, there are new challenges associated with resettling.Often first among these are feelings of isolation and loneliness, and concerns about accessing stable housing. Finding stable housing is essential for a newly arrived refugee because it provides a foundation for the rest of their life. But there are many barriers including the high cost of housing and landlords requiring credit checks or previous landlord references, which refugees are often unable to provide. Finding safe and stable housing is often the first step in a life-long journey. That’s why Rainbow Railroad is proud to work with Refugee Housing Canada, an innovative startup based in the Greater Toronto and Vancouver Areas which connects newly arrived refugees to community members who can provide stable and affordable housing.Here’s how it works: People with spare bedrooms to rent sign up to be hosts on the Refugee Housing Canada website. They create an online listing, which includes photos, the house rules, room availability, and rent price. Meanwhile, resettlement agencies, like Rainbow Railroad, give refugees access to the online platform, where they can match with a host.Only refugees who have been resettled through Rainbow Railroad or other partner agencies can access listings on the website, ensuring that all candidates for housing on the platform are vetted and verified. Homeowners can open their homes and hearts to those in need, while refugees can rest easy knowing they have a temporary and welcoming home while they start their new life in Canada.Everyone deserves access to safe, stable, affordable housing, and Refugee Housing Canada helps to foster supportive communities for newcomers by connecting them with housing.If you live in the Greater Toronto or Vancouver Areas, you can learn more about the program and sign up to be a host here.

Civil society organizations call on states to create more dedicated pathways and programs to help LGBTQI+ people who are at risk of persecution, including humanitarian and development funding as well as resettlement pathways. Building sustained relationships with LGBTQI+ civil society and leveraging the expertise of LGBTQI+-led organizations is key to accessing and identifying at-risk LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons in need of durable solutions.  With more than 110 million displaced people in the world, we are collectively experiencing a global refugee crisis of unprecedented scale. We are also witnessing an ongoing injustice that is a compounding risk factor for LGBTQI+ people: 63 states around the world criminalize same-sex intimacy and, as a result, at-risk LGBTQI+ people often face systemic barriers to accessing safety within the existing global refugee and asylum system. For LGBTQI+ individuals, drivers of displacement such as conflict, climate disaster and political instability bring pre-existing persecutory conditions sharply into focus. In countries of origin, transit and host countries, LGBTQI+ communities are exposed to hate-motivated violence from state and non-state actors, as well as discrimination when crossing international borders and hostility when accessing basic services. Existing protection mechanisms fail to effectively respond to the unique vulnerabilities experienced by LGBTQI+ people, often rendering available pathways to safety inaccessible to people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities and sex characteristics.  UNHCR’s 2021 Roundtable Summary Conclusions note that forcibly displaced LGBTIQ+ people “experience multiple, compounding and intersecting  stigmatizations  and  abuse,  including…  stigmatization  related  to both their  diverse SOGIESC and their migration status”. The conclusions also note that LGBTIQ+ people continue to face “similar or higher risks of homophobic, biphobic, transphobic and endosexist violence from both  nationals  of  the  host  country  as  well  as  from  other  displaced  people,” which are further exacerbated by “xenophobic hostility, misogyny, irregular  migration  status,  socioeconomic  marginalization,  isolation  from  traditional  support networks and trauma-induced physical and emotional duress.” Despite growing international recognition of the pressing needs of LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced people, these voices continue to be excluded and deprioritized within mainstream humanitarian spaces. The Global Compact on Refugees, while affirming protections related to age, gender, disability and diversity, failed to affirm protections for LGBTQI+ persons or to recognize their unique vulnerabilities - in fact, the term LGBTQI+ was not used at all in the document. In multilateral fora, states often sacrifice LGBTQI+ rights for political considerations, disregarding the urgency of addressing the persecution and violence facing LGBTQI+ people. Politicization of LGBTQI+ rights severely compromises our ability as a global community to address forced displacement crises, when allied states do not hold persecutors to account for fear of offending them in diplomatic spaces. For example, in Uganda, there is an ongoing assault on LGBTQI+ human rights. In May, the President signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law and made Uganda the 12th country in the world to legalize the death penalty as a punishment for same-sex intimacy. Targeted violence and persecution is one of the root causes of the LGBTQI+ forced displacement crisis which the Global Refugee Forum seeks to address. Meanwhile, Uganda is co-chairing the Global Refugee Forum. The UNHCR and member states' decision to allow Uganda to remain a co-chair of the Forum undermines the advocacy of persecuted LGBTQI+ Ugandan activists who are calling for global public pressure on Uganda to overturn this hateful and discriminatory legislation. Since passage of the law, LGBTQI+ Ugandans have been arrested, evicted and subjected to bias-motivated violence. Ugandan activists have made clear requests to the global community to put pressure on Uganda, calling on governments to issue visa bans for human rights violators, provide nimble emergency funding to local organizations, create flexible humanitarian pathways for at-risk LGBTQI+ persons in Uganda, and hold the Ugandan government to account in multilateral spaces.The immense challenge of navigating a hostile and exclusionary global landscape can only be met by an equally powerful force of collective queer resistance. By necessity of survival, LGBTQI+ individuals and organizations have become incredibly adept at harnessing the vitality and creativity of their communities to rise up against oppressive systems and generate alternative solutions for finding protection and freedom. In order to be effective, any strategy to address the crisis of forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people must first be grounded in the cultivation of strong, trust-based partnership networks with local civil society organizations, to identify the urgent needs of highly vulnerable populations, generate responsive pathways to safety, and build a sustainable movement for international LGBTQI+ solidarity. The Joint Refugee Statement at the Global Refugee Forum recognizes the “life-threatening circumstances faced by individuals from marginalized groups, such as the LGBTIQ+ community”, calling on states and protection actors to see refugees as “human beings with unique identities, needs, and diverse backgrounds”, taking a tailored approach which considers “unique and diverse needs, aspirations and capacities of” LGBTIQ+ people, among others.Recognizing the unique expertise of LGBTQI+ global civil society, Rainbow Railroad will build the conditions to establish an International LGBTQI+ Forced Displacement Coordination Initiative. The Initiative will serve as an international platform to develop solutions for LGBTQI+ persons who are impacted by the global migration crisis. The Initiative will convene LGBTQI+ civil society, community organizations, academics and key government stakeholders for research and policy development, and provide a forum for coordinating crisis response efforts in real time. This platform has emerged as a direct response to the need to organize and mobilize to influence the global refugee and asylum system which continues to make trade-offs against the lives of LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons. The Initiative is also the product of collective advocacy by global LGBTQI+ civil society organizations which advocated for UNHCR to convene the 2021 Global Roundtable on Protection and Solutions for LGBTIQ+ People in Forced Displacement. The Initiative implements key recommendations from the Roundtable, including the recommendation to “invest in a robust, centralized, international multi-stakeholder network to regularly share data, research, programmatic best practices, and solutions for LGBTIQ+ persons of concern” and to establish “formal global structure, networks, and funding mechanisms by which members of humanitarian, human rights, and allied communities can exchange information, collaborate, coordinate, and hold each other accountable on collectively protecting and supporting LGBTIQ+ people in forced displacement and statelessness.” This centralized advocacy body will work with states to increase refugee intake, and adopt rapid intervention and protection pathways. States must continue progress made in LGBTQI+ rights, and invest in resettlement while upholding the right to seek asylum. Recently, several countries have taken key steps forward in their commitment to LGBTQI+ human rights, while also recognizing that sustained relationships with LGBTQI+ civil society and leveraging expertise of LGBTQI+-led organizations are key to accessing at-risk LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons. The Canadian government has partnered with Rainbow Railroad to create a dedicated resettlement pathway for LGBTQI+ refugees, both through direct NGO referral, and in partnership with a broader coalition across LGBTQI+ civil society to create dedicated LGBTQI+ private sponsorship resettlement slots. At the UNHCR High Level Officials Meeting, the United States committed to “establish new referral and sponsorship pathways for LGBTQI+ and other vulnerable refugee groups.” The US has begun working with LGBTQI+-led organizations to create new mechanisms for NGO referrals and private sponsorship, currently in the pilot stage. Other states are also exploring the possibility of dedicated pathways or quotas for LGBTQI+ refugees, including through partnership with LGBTQI+ civil society. Amidst the increased creation and use of complementary pathways, states must continue to affirm the principles of vulnerability-based resettlement and the additionality of complementary pathways, to ensure that the fundamental right to seek asylum is protected from erosion. Leveraging the expertise of LGBTQI+-led organizations - and in particular refugee-led LGBTQI+ organizations -  is key to assessing and identifying at-risk LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons in need of durable solutions, whether through resettlement or complementary pathways. As a coalition of LGBTQI+ and allied civil society organizations, we stand ready to elevate the voices of LGBTQI+ persons with lived experience of forced displacement, strengthen the work of LGBTQI+ activists leading advancements toward equality, and to partner with states to support those most at-risk in our communities. We call on states to create more dedicated pathways and programs to help LGBTQI+ people who are at risk of persecution, through funding for essential services and accessible resettlement pathways. States should invest in sustained partnerships with LGBTQI+ civil society to increase protection and safeguarding efforts of LGBTQI+ persons experiencing forced displacement.Presenting SignatoryRainbow RailroadJoint Civil Society Organization SignatoriesAccess Chapter 2Adhikaar AotearoaAfghanistan LGBTIQ+ OrganisationThe African Centre for Refugees in Ontario CanadaAGIR MontrealAlliance for South Asian AIDS PreventionAman LaraAmerica Diversa IncAmnesty International AustraliaANKH Association (Arab Network for Knowledge about Human Rights)APCOM FoundationArc EssentielASEAN SOGIE CaucusBlue Diamond SocietyCalgary Refugee HealthCanadian Centre for Gender and Sexual DiversityCapital Rainbow RefugeCentre de Recherche et de Documentation en Approches Genre CREDAGColours CaribbeanCorporación Caribe AfirmativoCouncil for Global EqualityCuso InternationalDerechos Humanos y Diversidad Asociación CivilDiálogo DiversoEgale CanadaEgides - Alliance internationale francophone pour l'égalité et les diversitésThe Enchanté NetworkEqual Asia FoundationEQUAL GROUNDFierté Canada PrideFrom Borders to BelongingForcibly Displaced People NetworkFondation ÉmergenceFondation MassimadiFundación Arcoiris por el respeto a la diversidad sexualFundación Colectivo Hombres XX, A. C.Fundación IgualdadHelemHIV Legal NetworkILGA AsiaILGA- LAC ArgentinaILGA WorldImmigration EqualityInstituto sobre Migracion y Refugio LGBTIQ para Centroamerica IRCA CASABIERTAKudwaKyivPride CanadaLesbian and Gay Federation in Germany (LSVD)Lithuanian Gay LeagueMicro Rainbow International FoundationMOSAIC MENAMorgane Oger FoundationMovimiento de Integración y Liberación Homosexual (Movilh)Namibia Diverse Women's Association (NDWA)Niskanen CenterOCASI- Ontario Council of Agencies Serving ImmigrantsORAM - Organization for Refuge, Asylum and MigrationOTD ChilePolonia InclusivePride at Work Canada/Fierté au travail CanadaPride TorontoPromsexProud To Be TransRainbow AfghanistanRainbow Refugee SocietyRainbow Faith and FreedomRed nacional de apoyo a personas migrantes y refugiadas LGBT MéxicoRed Regional de Protección a Personas LGBTIQ+ Refugiadas y Migrantes en las AmericasRefugee Council USARefugio LGBT CASA FRIDAReportOUTRFSL -The Swedish Federation for LGBTIQ RightsSASOD GuyanaSynergía - Initiatives for Human RightsWILPF CanadaWUSC (World University Service of Canada)UK Black PrideUnited Church of CanadaVenezuela Diversa

In May of 2023, the Ugandan President signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act into law, codifying one of the most extreme pieces of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in the world.In recent months, Rainbow Railroad has experienced an alarming surge in requests for help from the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda.We’ve also received a spike in requests for assistance from our partners on the ground in Uganda, including under-resourced organizations and shelters in rural Uganda, which have received little to no international attention. We’re also seeing a worsening trend of community rejection — including evictions, violent arrests, and loss of employment — as a major safety concern for LGBTQI+ individuals. You can read more about one of our partner organizations in Uganda, Mbarara Rise Foundation, here.November 28, Giving Tuesday, all donations made to Rainbow Railroad will be directed to our work in Uganda, supporting the vital services of these organizations.We ask for your support as we stand in solidarity with LGBTQI+ Ugandans. Please give generously.

On October 26, 1996, intersex activists from around the world gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, outside the annual American Academy of Pediatrics conference for the first public demonstration by intersex people in North America. Since then, this day has been observed annually to raise awareness of the issues intersex individuals face, promote understanding and acceptance, and advocate for their rights and access to respectful and supportive healthcare practices.Intersex people are born with natural variations in their biological sex characteristics — simply put, their bodies fit outside the strict male/female binary. It's important to recognize that intersex is a natural part of human diversity — not a medical condition to be changed or fixed. Medical practitioners' failure to comprehend and recognize this has led to traumatizing situations for intersex individuals, especially minors who undergo surgeries without proper explanation of their characteristics. Over the years, the internet and social media helped break the silence surrounding intersex issues, allowing intersex individuals to connect, share their stories, and ultimately find solidarity. Between 2021 and 2022, Rainbow Railroad saw a 78% increase in requests for help from intersex individuals. So far in 2023, more than 400 intersex individuals have reached out for assistance.Intersex activist, psychotherapist, American jazz singer and actress, Eden Atwood, recounts her journey as an intersex individual: “I didn’t feel the same as everybody else. I was never told as a child and teenager why I didn't get my period. When the results of my blood test arrived, it was met with silence by my mother and the medical practitioner at Mayo Clinic in the late 80’s.” “Growing up intersex was isolating and painful because of how I was treated by the medical community. It damaged my view of myself. I already had a very difficult relationship with my mother and used to fake a variety of illnesses to get her attention. When I was told I had “precancerous twisted ovaries” I thought, oh god, I did this to myself. I faked so many illnesses I made myself deathly ill. Of course none of that was true. I was not deathly ill nor had I done anything to myself. Being intersex today is still isolating, but I no longer have shame about myself or my body. Nothing in my life has ever been so painful as carrying deep shame. Unraveling that shame has been profoundly difficult. Living my life without a secure attachment to either of my parents made my life very lonely and often very painful.”Eden transformed her pain into purpose and started to support others in their own journey of embracing the whole of who they are which she describes as the source of their joy. Atwood and their former partner founded The Interface Project to share the lived experiences of intersex people as an act of love for themselves and their community.Music is their outlet and singing their story empowers them to be present and show up as the forgiving and compassionate self that aspires to artivism: “I always believe in art and its power to educate, heal, incite and inspire. Music is always true north for me. It reminds me of who I am, where I have been, and keeps me moving in the direction of love.”Eden continues to advocate for intersex rights and is currently part of a lawsuit in Montana, USA opposing Senate Bill 458 that seeks to legally define binary biological sex. By observing Intersex Awareness Day, we continue to foster understanding, challenge harmful stereotypes, and promote respect for the diverse experiences and identities within the intersex community. It also celebrates the strength and resilience of intersex individuals and helps create a world that respects and values everyone's unique journey. 

The Global Compact on Refugees, by which governments made commitments for refugee solutions, made little mention of LGBTQI+ persons.In 2021 UNHCR hosted a Global Roundtable on LGBTQI+ forced displacement. The convening, which took place virtually with 13 sessions over three weeks, marked a significant milestone in addressing the gaps faced by LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers and people on the move. Rainbow Railroad was a co-facilitator and key participant in the convening which resulted in 33 important recommendations constituting a foundational roadmap for further action for UNCHR, governments and civil society in regard to the protection of and solutions for LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced and stateless persons throughout the world.Read the recommendations here.

We’re highlighting insights from our 2022 Annual Report, Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution. To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.Insights: Failed Travel and Barriers to Seeking AsylumBetween 2018 and 2022 we noted over 30 cases of  “failed travel” for individuals as we attempted to move them to safer locations. Due to systemic barriers in global border infrastructure, certain groups are disproportionately targeted for denial of boarding. The term “failed travel” refers to situations in which airline officials, private security guards, and other non-state agents prevent the cross-border movement of persons seeking access to asylum. Airlines are incentivized to reject travelers from boarding, even those with legal documents, because governments impose steep fines or suspend airlines’ licenses if the state ends up deporting someone who is later deemed inadmissible. Airlines do not have the training, capacity or authority to ensure that people will not be harmed if they are denied boarding. Denials by carriers are applied selectively and inconsistently, allowing some individuals to pass through airports freely while prohibiting others from boarding flights. This system lacks safeguards to ensure that people are protected from discrimination, including discrimination based on national, ethnic, or racial origin and gender identity and expression.There are many settings in transit countries outside of airports where LGBTQI+ people seeking safety face additional barriers.  LGBTQI+ refugees who are living in camps in countries that are not supportive of their rights face systemic discrimination, including barriers to accessing refugee status determination, as well as violence and harassment from local communities and other refugees. Humanitarian protection agencies, which are responsible for identifying the most vulnerable and connecting them with pathways to refuge, can miss necessary cultural and linguistic norms to meaningfully understand LGBTQI+ related persecution or even subject LGBTQI+ people to discrimination. LGBTQI+ persons coming from contexts where their diverse SOGIESC is a factor in their persecution may not readily identify themselves as LGBTQI+ due to their fears of being threatened with violence if their identities are known. Rainbow Railroad works closely with LGBTQI+ host community and asylum seeker networks, mapping LGBTQI+ inclusive service providers and community spaces so that we can respond to urgent protection needs, including food, medicine and safe shelter. We also advocate with governments to open pathways to find durable solutions for those who are most vulnerable. We need to work both within and outside of the international protection system to leverage creative solutions which build on the resiliency and courage of our case individuals.To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.

We’re highlighting insights from our 2022 Annual Report, Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution. To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.Human Rights Defenders Increasingly at RiskHuman rights defenders (HRDs) often work in dangerous circumstances and, in some cases, are forced to flee themselves. HRDs work locally, trying to advocate for changes to the laws and policies that criminalize and persecute LGTBQI+ persons, and are sometimes targeted by state actors as a result of their work. Recognizing this, the Canadian government established a dedicated refugee stream for human rights defenders for resettlement to Canada, one of the only countries in the world to make this kind of pathway available. Rainbow Railroad advocated for the creation of this novel pathway since inception, and as one of the only organizations with the capacity to refer LGBTQI+ human rights defenders, we have had the opportunity to refer seven cases for relocation to Canada through the HRD stream. Due to the unpredictability of government crackdowns and other regional circumstances, we cannot always anticipate when it will be necessary for HRDs to leave their work and seek refuge in another country. A group of HRDs may emerge as needing urgent protection; to prepare for this possibility, our team closely monitors evolving threats to HRDs around the world. A significant number of our cases involve case work done by trusted individuals who have long-term relationships with Rainbow Railroad staff, including HRDs who share information to verify requests for help. We also draw on the technical expertise of our dedicated staff of caseworkers, including several human rights defender colleagues who have lived experience of forced migration and/or persecution based on their LGBTQI+ identities.Limited Pathways to Safety for At-Risk LGBTQI+ PersonsIn 2022, 4% of all requests for help that Rainbow Railroad received had no route to safety and limited options for support through other channels. Our capacity to provide support to at-risk LGBTQI+ persons is limited by geopolitical factors, such as contextual risks, legal restrictions, and a lack of passport mobility.In 2021, we identified the top ten countries of nationality with the highest disparities between the number of requests we received and the number of individuals we were able to provide with Emergency Travel Support (ETS), where people are forced to remain due to barriers to movement. These countries were: Algeria, India, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Nigeria, Syria, Morocco, and Turkey. In 2022 data, two new countries appeared, Kenya and Jordan, replacing Somalia and Morocco. The replacement of Somalia and Morocco on this list is not because the situation has improved in either country, but because the situation in other countries has worsened - Somalia and Morocco still lack routes to safety.SyriaPakistanIranNigeriaLebanonJordanAlgeriaSaudi ArabiaIndiaKenyaRecognizing the systemic gaps that prevent at-risk LGBTQI+ individuals from relocating, Rainbow Railroad reaches those most in need through other channels, such as safehouses, partnerships, and advocacy work. For instance, requests from Nigerians increased by 30% in 2022 (288 total requests), and Rainbow Railroad supported local organizations that addressed basic needs, provided psychosocial and sexual health programming to individuals, as well as conducting human rights and advocacy work. Similarly, in Lebanon, Rainbow Railroad supported two organizations working on research and advocacy to identify gaps within support for the LGBTQI+ community in the country.Rainbow Railroad continues to advocate for a direct referring partnership with governments, including the government of Canada and the government of the United States, to be able to prioritize providing routes directly to safety for those from these countries. To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.

We’re highlighting insights from our 2022 Annual Report, Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution. To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.Rising Threats in the United StatesIn 2022, the United States emerged at #8 on our list of countries where the highest number of requests for assistance originate.  Notably, a significant number of these requests were received in the days following June 24, 2022, when the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, suggesting that the withdrawal of the federal right to abortion provoked broader fears about threats to human rights. While the majority of the requests from the US in 2022 originated from US citizens (60%), 40% of requests were from nationals of 42 other countries, mainly requesting assistance in making asylum claims in the US. Rainbow Railroad affirms the United States as a global leader in refugee resettlement and advocates for increased resettlement of refugees to this country, including LGBTQI+ refugees. However, it is critical to recognize that, like many other countries around the world, there are significant regional and local inequalities in access to safety for LGBTQI+ persons across the United States. Although the Respect for Marriage Act protects marriage equality at a federal level, 2022 saw state legislatures introduce 315 discriminatory anti-LGBTQI+ bills. Although only 29 passed into law, this represents the largest wave of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in recent US  history. At the same time that LGBTQI+ rights were being eroded, pandemic-era border restrictions continued to inflict significant harm on asylum seekers, effectively closing the US southern border to those seeking refuge. Although the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced their decision to repeal sweeping pandemic-era border restrictions  under Title 42, court injunctions kept the policy in place.  These policies continued in spite of scathing dissent from public health experts and immigrant rights groups. LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum are particularly vulnerable and face higher rates of violence and persecution in transit and in their home countries. The additional burden of the Title 42 expulsion order places them in grave danger at the southern border. South-South Migration As countries in the global north continue to see an increase in anti-migrant and anti-LGBTQI+ legislation, Rainbow Railroad has sought out alternatives to global north resettlement. We have noted a positive response to our facilitation of ‘South-South Migration’. For example, through partnerships with the organization AMAL in Argentina and PASSOP in South Africa, Rainbow Railroad continues to pilot and build new routes and more durable pathways to safety in the ‘Global South’ for LGBTQI+ refugees. To elaborate on the importance of increasing avenues for ‘South-South’ Migration, we interviewed Mariano Ruiz, Projects Coordinator for AMAL in Argentina.“Most countries in Europe are turning to the right and so we need more countries accepting newcomers, especially countries that approve progressive laws in which LGTBQI+ people can develop and express themselves freely. Argentinian society is quite open for immigration. We are a country made up of immigrants. The objective of AMAL is to make integration smoother. Thanks to the support of Rainbow Railroad we have the ability to have a stronger programmatic structure, resources, provide psychological and psychiatric support, general resettlement assistance, and things like Spanish classes for LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons and refugees.” “When people get to the border they don’t see anything else but the States. We wanted to be able to screen people at the southern border because of the effects of Title 42, where we could instead offer suitable candidates alternative routes to safety - one of which was Argentina where we could provide them support and housing and a sponsorship group.”When asked why he is committed to this work, Mariano responded, “Before working with refugees I was doing activism. That person that is migrating today, tomorrow could be me.”  To read more of our insights, you can access the full report here.

2022 was a significant year for Rainbow Railroad.We received almost 10,000 requests for help - an overwhelming and record number - and supported more individuals than any year in our organization’s history. When we look back at 2022, it’s clear that there is so much for us to learn, and share with our community. In drafting the 2022 Annual Report, “Understanding the State of Global LGBTQI+ Persecution”, our team had two main goals. First, we wanted to ensure a high level of rigor and integrity in our data analysis, based on three years of data and counting, and last year’s almost 10,000 individual requests for help from LGBTQI+ people at risk. As a team, we undertake quantitative and qualitative analysis to map trends and capture emerging insights. This report, which documents witness testimony of LGBTQI+ persecution from around the world, represents a relationship of deep trust between individuals in imminent danger, and Rainbow Railroad. We know that the data in this report represents a difficult year in queer history. It is a solemn moment where we declare, as we release this report on June 20th - World Refugee Day: LGBTQI+ people are here. We exist. And we will not be erased.Second, we wanted to meaningfully integrate the perspectives of Rainbow Railroad case individuals into our research and analysis. Individuals trust us with highly sensitive information, which is why any story or names shared in the report are only shared with their permission. Some wished to share their stories even though they are not in a safe enough environment to disclose their names publicly. In this report, we share stories of persecution and trauma, but also ask case individuals about their views of regional political dynamics in the Middle East, what it’s like to be a human rights defender, what safety means to them, and so much more. We feature perspectives from folks who are still waiting to travel, those who have just resettled and those who have built their lives in a destination country. In the coming weeks, we will continue to share key insights from this report, ensuring that the quantity and depth of data we have gathered is not lost as we move forward with our work. Thank you for being a part of it, and for supporting our mission. Today, June 20th, is World Refugee Day, and this month is Pride Month - but our work helping at-risk LGBTQI+ people is year-round. We could not be more proud to share this report and to use these findings to advocate for justice and protection for LGBTQI+ people at risk.You can also download the full report here.

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 Railroad to identify and refer at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees through the Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) Program. Through this program, Rainbow Railroad will act as a trusted partner that can refer LGBTQI+ persons for resettlement to Canada.It will enable Rainbow Railroad to act alongside agencies like the UN Refugee Agency working with the Canadian government to refer at-risk LGBTQI+ persons for resettlement in the country.As the number of displaced LGBTQI+ people around the world continues to grow, so does the number of requests for assistance for Rainbow Railroad. In 2023, we have already received over 4,100 requests for assistance, and are averaging 10,000 a year.  Even though we have been able to move many people to safety, many are still waiting for assistance — mainly due to a lack of government partnerships for onward movement. To address this need, we, alongside members of the From Borders to Belonging coalition, have advocated for direct referral partnerships with the Canadian government for several years and have had success on a case-by-case basis. Our collective advocacy with the coalition led to the creation of an LGBTQI+-specific private sponsorship pathway through the Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership (RRAP).  Furthering this momentum, we are delighted that Canada has stepped up as the first country to partner with Rainbow Railroad in a direct GAR referral capacity and hope other countries will follow suit.The Canadian government has been an important partner of Rainbow Railroad throughout our organization’s history. We worked closely with the federal government in establishing the RRAP program, coordinated with the government on public policy for an emergency response to the crackdown against LGBTQI+ Chechens in 2017, and in 2022 announced an incredible partnership to relocate more than 600 Afghans to Canada. Through each of these opportunities, we demonstrated our credibility and expertise for refugee referrals, and advocated tirelessly for a direct referral partnership to increase the number of people receiving international protection.  Rainbow Railroad works alongside a community of supporters who champion our mission, and our work will continue to depend on our community’s unwavering support. This historic moment — achieving one of our most significant and enduring policy goals — would not have been possible without continued advocacy supported by our community, the financial support of our donors, and the ongoing work of our partners both domestically and abroad. At the same time, our partnership with grassroots partners and human rights defenders around the world, and with the resilient and courageous individuals who make the difficult decision to leave their homes to seek safety, is the impetus that drives us forward in solidarity.While this program is still in development, we will share more information about this landmark moment in our history and this essential pathway for LGBTQI+ refugees soon.You can stay up to date on our work by signing up to receive our newsletter. Related Reports:Three steps the next Canadian government can take to provide more pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ RefugeesRainbow Railroad Calls for a Direct Referral Partnership with the U.S. Government

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, Section 14 of the Act, “Duty to report acts of homosexuality”, necessitates civilians report on each other; fining or imprisoning those that fail to do so. Those found guilty of repeated offenses including relations involving HIV+ persons or those deemed “vulnerable” are punishable by death — making Uganda the 12th state in the world to pass the death penalty for LGBTQI + persons. The Act also criminalizes a range of activities, including the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality, effectively criminalizing LGBTQI+ advocacy with up to 20 years in prison. Further, the Act seeks to actively quash LGBTQI+ civil society by outlawing the operation of LGBTQI+ organizations outright. Finally, the law empowers employers to terminate their LGBTQI+ employees and requires landlords to evict LGBTQI+ persons and organizations. Landlords who fail to evict LGBTQI+ tenants will be punished by up to 20 years in prison.The Act has received widespread international condemnation, including Statements from both the Biden administration and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.You can read the full report here, or access it below.