Publications

As the Afghanistan response enters its third year, research suggests that the risks to LGBTQI+ persons posed by the Taliban regime continue largely unabated while the availability of pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ Afghans is stagnating. More broadly, the humanitarian situation facing LGBTQI+ Afghans is gradually shifting from a complex emergency to a protracted situation. At this stage, given the lack of a clear endgame for the crisis due to the seeming durability of Taliban governance, there is a pressing need to bring together intervening organizations to assess the humanitarian response to-date, the current state of play, and determine next steps from a coordinated perspective.To that end, ILGA ASIA and Rainbow Railroad co-hosted a Strategic Convening on Afghanistan LGBTQI+ Human Rights and Humanitarian Response on 5-6 July 2023. This hybrid convening gathered stakeholders from Afghan-led organizations and LGBTQI+ organizations from the US, UK, Germany, Pakistan and Thailand. The agenda was organized around a set of thematic areas and structured through a set of focused discussion questions geared toward aligning on a strategic direction for the response.The conclusions and recommendations emerging from this convening have been published in a report entitled "Strategic Convening on Afghanistan: LGBTQI+ Human Rights & Humanitarian Response". The full report can be accessed below, and is also available for download here.

There are nearly 110 million people forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations and climate disasters. The population of forcibly displaced people worldwide includes LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and stateless people seeking protection from discrimination, abuse and persecution.In 2021 UNHCR hosted a Global Roundtable on LGBTQI+ forced displacement, and made 33 significant recommendations with regards to the protection and solutions for LGBTQI+ forcibly displaced persons throughout the world. One of them specifically recommends that UNHCR, "Establish a bilateral network, led by LGBTIQ+ people with lived experiences in forced  displacement, that  is  funded  by  UNHCR,  organized  at  the  global  level,  and  includes  space  for  these  individuals  to  come  together  to  interact  with  one  another  and  with UNHCR leadership."In this report, Rainbow Railroad proposes strengthening the global response to these serious challenges through an International LGBTQI+ forced displacement network which will engage people with lived experience, governments, civil society and academics, in research, advocacy and policy development.Rainbow Railroad, along with international partners, will build a critically needed long-term platform to support LGBTQI+ persons in forced displacement and to advocate for improved protection outcomes and access to durable solutions.In addition to generating lasting research and policy solutions, the network would provide a forum for different actors to mobilize and coordinate humanitarian response efforts in real time when crises occur.You can read the full report outlining the goals of the LGBTQI+ forced displacement network below, or download the 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.

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.

Advocating for governments to create more pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ refugees has always been an essential part of our work. Governments have the power to help LGBTQI+ people seeking safety, and therefore, Rainbow Railroad consistently calls on governments to take action. Because of the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to LGBTQI+ rights at home and abroad, and the United States’ capacity to resettle LGBTQI+ refugees domestically, Rainbow Railroad has been pressing the U.S. government since 2020 to make changes to laws and policies that would allow for more LGBTQI+ people to resettle in the United States. A key recommendation we have made since this administration has come into office has been to allow Rainbow Railroad and other LGBTQI+ civil society organizations the ability to directly refer vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees to the U.S. government for resettlement.Why Direct Referral is ImportantLGBTQI+ people who have fled their home country and are living in what we refer to as a “transit country” must be referred to the government of a safer country in order to be resettled as a refugee. An embassy, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a designated non-governmental organization can make this referral. A referral is what gives an LGBTQI+ person the chance of being resettled in a safer country. But, LGBTQI+ people face systemic barriers to attaining this referral. Limitations in access to refugee status determination services, violence and harassment in refugee camp settings and a lack of trauma-informed approaches to working with survivors prevent LGBTQI+ people from accessing traditional refugee assistance in transit countries. This is where Rainbow Railroad can play an essential role in identifying LGBTQI+ people in critical need of resettlement. Many of our staff are members of the LGBTQI+ community, and because we are embedded in an extensive network of civil society defenders across the globe, we have a unique ability to locate, verify, and triage LGBTQI+ people in need of resettlement. Rainbow Railroad is the leading international non-profit organization in safe relocation of LGBTQI+ persons globally. Last year alone, we supported more than 4,500 people through emergency travel and other programming. Referral Status Has the Potential to Create a “Highway to Safety”Designating Rainbow Railroad and other LGBTQI+ civil society organizations as referral partners has the potential to vastly increase the number of people Rainbow Railroad can resettle in the United States. Such a partnership would leverage Rainbow Railroad’s expertise at identifying, verifying, and triaging the most extreme cases of persecution while streamlining the process for refugee status determination for those in need. The U.S. government has recently announced a new program called Welcome Corps, which allows for U.S. citizens to sponsor refugees who relocate to the United States. Rainbow Railroad was proud to be a consultative partner in the development of this new program. Sponsors - ordinary American citizens - commit to providing emotional, financial, and integration support for a designated period of time in order to help a newcomer adjust to life in the United States. This program has the potential to resettle thousands of LGBTQI+ refugees in the United States, and making Rainbow Railroad an official referral partner will only help more LGBTQI+ people at-risk.As Welcome Corps is built, we are calling on the Biden-Harris administration to officially designate Rainbow Railroad a referral partner of the program. This partnership would have the potential to create a highway to safety for LGBTQI+ people in the United States; bringing together the on-the-ground expertise of Rainbow Railroad, the vast legal power of the U.S. government, and the generosity of ordinary American citizens.What comes next and how can I help?In the coming months, we’ll continue to advocate to the U.S. government to make Rainbow Railroad a full referral partner for the Welcome Corps program, in addition to making Rainbow Railroad a referral  partner for the traditional refugee stream (something we’ve been calling for since 2021).You can learn more about why we’re calling for the ability to directly refer refugees to the U.S. government as well as a full accounting of our specific policy asks in this memo to U.S. policy makers.  At the same time, we are building a database of U.S. citizens who are interested in becoming sponsors of LGBTQI+ refugees through the Welcome Corps program. You can learn more and register your interest in becoming a sponsor here. 

This report outlines the verification process for Human Rights Defender (HRD) cases by Rainbow Railroad intake caseworkers. This document describes how Rainbow Railroad’s vetting process aligns with the HRD stream’s definitions and criteria for referral. Requests for help received by Rainbow Railroad undergo thorough verification through civil document review, risk assessment and screening interviews to confirm identity and credibility. Cases move from an initial receipt of request for help or direct referral, to an email screening and evidence collection stage, to the interview and case summary stage with our Intake Casework Team. From this point applications that have been flagged as potential HRDs by the Intake Team, assigned to caseworkers. Caseworkers perform an indepth credibility assessment including conducting another interview, this one is specifically for HRDs, checking the case individual’s references, and working with the individual to complete their application. The application is then submitted for review to the Program Manager responsible for the HRD Stream and then final review goes through the Head of Programs before the case is submitted for consideration.You can read more about the HRD verification process here and below.

The Canadian government has established a dedicated refugee stream for human rights defenders (HRDs) for resettlement to Canada, and is exploring the possibility of opening this stream to credible non-governmental organizations such as Rainbow Railroad to make specialized direct referrals of their internal cases. Rainbow Railroad is grateful for the opportunity to be considered under this emerging pathway and to be engaged in an ongoing conversation around our direct referral capacity.You can read the full report here, or access it below.

In addressing global LGBTQI+ persecution and forced displacement, Rainbow Railroad relies on a large network of partners who support our mission, rather than on branded field offices which would pose a risk to our staff and the people we serve, given that same-sex intimacy is criminalized in nearly 70 countries. Instead, we work directly with local human rights defenders, activist networks, and organizations who help us to identify, verify, and triage requests for help from LGBTQI+ persons facing persecution and provide on-the-ground insights, verification, identification information, and logistical support. Our trusted relationships with underground collectives, unregistered groups, and LGBTQI+ rights defenders give Rainbow Railroad unique access to global networks of vulnerable individuals facing persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). This model has led to the successful relocation of thousands of individuals and has strengthened the global LGTBQI+ movement more broadly.Since 2019, Rainbow Railroad has partnered with over 50 organizations engaged in work with the LGBTQI+ community. While these partners are headquartered in 24 countries, many of the organizations work regionally and their reach extends into neighboring countries.The countries represented in Rainbow Railroad’s partnerships include Argentina, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guyana, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Malawi, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, South Sudan, Tunisia, Russia, Rwanda, Turkey, Uganda, and Ukraine.You can read the full report here, or access it below.

Two years after a landmark decision from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) urging the Jamaican government to repeal the country’s homophobic laws, Rainbow Railroad and the Human Dignity Trust call on Jamaica to immediately comply with the top Americas human rights tribunal’s recommendations.Despite two years having passed since the IACHR’s decision was made public, Jamaica has resolutely failed to comply with a single recommendation made by the Commission. In particular, homophobic laws remain in force and there is no protection from discrimination for the LGBTQI+ community.In the face of this lack of progress, the organizations released a joint report, A Caribbean Outlier: Repeal anti-LGBTQI+ laws in Jamaica, documenting the violence, harassment and discrimination faced by LGBTQI+ people in Jamaica over the last two years.According to the new report, in 2021, Rainbow Railroad received 322 requests for assistance from individuals in Jamaica, up from 280 the previous year. When seeking help, 221 LGBTQI+ people reported being beaten up, shot at or “chopped”. 101 people reported family-based violence, and there were a further 185 reports referring to public humiliation, sexual violence and police brutality.You can read the full report here, or access it below. 

Rainbow Railroad documents human rights abuses faced by over 1,700 LGBTQI+ Afghans under Taliban rule in this comprehensive research report.