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Rainbow Railroad condemns the decision of Russian authorities to continue their crusade to criminalize queer people. Earlier this week, the government threatened to designate the Russian LGBT Network, one of the country’s largest LGBTQI+ civil society organizations, as an “extremist organization.” If approved, any participation in the organization’s activities, including volunteering, providing services, or displaying its symbols, could lead to administrative or criminal prosecution. This action follows the continued escalation of anti-LGBTQI+ repression, including the 2023 ruling that labelled the “international LGBT movement” as extremist and enacting legislation that restricted gender-affirming care and legal gender recognition.Russian authorities have intensified efforts to limit access to LGBTQI+ information online, including blocking Rainbow Railroad’s website, censoring independent media, and expanding laws that criminalize access to materials labelled “extremist.” These measures sever a critical lifeline that many LGBTQI+ people rely on to obtain information on existing legal protections, guidance, and pathways to safety, deepening isolation and increasing vulnerability for LGBTQI+ Russians already at risk.Rainbow Railroad has repeatedly denounced the broader campaign targeting LGBTQI+ civil society across Russia and the wider region. “This is life-threatening for many LGBTQI+ Russians. Anti-LGBTQI+ judicial actions are directly driving protection needs and forced displacement,” says Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, CEO, Rainbow Railroad.In 2025, Rainbow Railroad received over 600 Requests for Help from LGBTQI+ people living in Russia or Russian citizens, representing a more than 50% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, 65% of requests were submitted by LGBTQI+ Russians still residing within the country. LGBTQI+ Russians requesting help specifically cited the dangers of being openly queer in Russia, and the legal risks created by the designation of queer movements as “extremist.” “These figures reflect escalating risk, shrinking civic space, censorship of information channels, and the growing barriers LGBTQI+ people face in accessing protection and support,” says Langsberg-Lewis. “All these risks have been reported by our Russian partner organizations, who are all being targeted by this harmful campaign.”Rainbow Railroad has supported LGBTQI+ individuals fleeing persecution from Russia since the Chechnya anti-gay purges and continues to expand emergency relocation pathways and crisis response systems for those at risk. In response to the current escalation, Rainbow Railroad is mobilizing emergency assistance to support the Russian LGBT Network to ensure that LGBTQI+ Russians affected by these developments continue to have access to safety, reliable information, legal protections, and secure pathways to refuge. As Russian authorities attempt to ban human rights organizations, restrict the public display of LGBTQI+ symbols and public expression, they cannot erase LGBTQI+ communities or the global queer movement that sustains them.We call on the Canadian government, the European Union, community members and international partners to act with urgency and principle by sustaining funding for human rights defenders and frontline LGBTQI+ civil society organizations worldwide, and consider the following actions:Expand emergency visas and dedicated human rights defender protection streams for LGBTQI+ Russians forced into exile.Publicly condemn the weaponization of “anti-extremism” laws used to criminalize identity, suppress civic space, and legitimize the systemic assault on the rights of LGBTQI+ people.Increase flexible and rapid-response funding for frontline LGBTQI+ organizations providing humanitarian protection, relocation assistance, and crisis services to LGBTQI+ Russians in forced displacement.Safeguard access to independent LGBTQI + information channels and secure communication platforms that connect LGBTQI+ people who face persecution to life-saving protection pathways and LGBTQI+ support networks.We call on our community to donate in support of Rainbow Railroad’s work to mobilize emergency assistance for those most at-risk. The attempt to label Russian LGBTQI+ organizations as a national threat is part of a broader effort to erase communities from public life. Yet their continued existence is a powerful act of resilience. Rainbow Railroad stands alongside those working in difficult and courageous spaces to defend the rights, safety, and dignity of the most vulnerable, and we call on the international community to act with urgency to protect them.

For years, fear dictated Julie’s days. Where she could go, who she could trust, how visible she could afford to be. In Uganda, being openly trans meant living in the shadow of criminalization, harassment, and violence. Survival meant vigilance. Freedom felt unimaginable. Yet today, Julie is building a life rooted not in fear, but in possibility.Julie is a proud transgender woman from Uganda, a country where simply existing as an LGBTQI+ person can be life-threatening. For her, identity and survival were never separate. “For many years, life there was filled with fear — constant threats, harassment, and violence simply because I dared to live as myself,” she shares.Her advocacy for LGBTQI+ rights only intensified the danger. In a context where queer and trans people are criminalized, visibility can come at a devastating cost. She fled Uganda for Kenya, carrying the weight of loss, fear, and uncertainty about what the future might hold. With support from Rainbow Railroad, that future eventually led her to Canada.Finding Home and Beginning to Heal“Canada is the first place I have ever been able to call ‘home,’” Julie says. After years of living in survival mode, she arrived in a country where she could finally breathe. “It’s a country where I can live without fear, where my gender identity is respected, and where I can finally begin rebuilding my life.”Safety, however, is only the first step. Like many newcomers, Julie faced the challenge of starting over — navigating a new culture, new systems, and the emotional toll of displacement. Healing did not happen overnight. But community made the difference. “Adjusting to a new culture has not been easy, but the support from kind people, community groups, and friends has made it possible,” she reflects.Over the past year, Julie has taken steps toward reclaiming her future. She began college studies focused on caregiving, learning about empathy, compassion, and meeting both physical and emotional needs. “This program has not only given me new career opportunities but has also helped me heal,” she says. Each lesson became a reminder that care is transformative, especially for those who have endured harm.Strength, Pride, and the Power of BelongingWhen Julie reflects on the year behind her, two moments stand out. One was deeply personal: completing her first practicum and helping someone “regain confidence after illness.” The other was collective and joyful: marching in Toronto Pride and Edmonton Pride, “proudly carrying my flag among other newcomers.”“These moments taught me that I am stronger than I ever believed,” she says.For Julie, strength now means more than survival. “I discovered that strength is not just in survival but in rebuilding with purpose.” Balancing school, work, and the lingering weight of past trauma has not been easy, but it has shaped her into someone grounded in hope.What brings her joy today is something that once felt out of reach: community. “Dancing with friends, sharing meals, or helping someone in need fills me with gratitude,” she says. “In those moments, I feel the true meaning of safety — belonging without fear.”As a new year begins, Julie’s hopes are clear. She wants stability. She wants to complete her studies. And she wants to give back. “I want to use my education to advocate for vulnerable people, refugees, elders, and anyone who feels unseen, reminding them that healing and dignity go hand in hand.”Her message to those who made her journey possible is simple and powerful: “Your love and solidarity gave me back my future.” And to LGBTQI+ people still living under threat, her words carry both urgency and hope: “You are not alone. There is a world waiting for you. A world where you can live freely and be celebrated for exactly who you are.”Right now, LGBTQI+ people around the world are being criminalized, targeted, and forced to flee simply for being who they are. Julie’s journey was made possible because someone chose to act.As we begin this new year, you can help make safety, healing, and hope possible for others like Julie. Donate today to support LGBTQI+ people fleeing persecution and help them find a place where they can live freely, with dignity and pride.

“Today, safety means sleeping without fear of a knock on the door,” Steven says.

How Rainbow Railroad’s Crisis Response and Grassroots Mobilization Funds are empowering frontline organizations with funding assistance during a period of increased need.

As Senior Program Officer, Service Referrals and Post-Relocation Support, Kiana oversees much of Rainbow Railroad’s non-monetary support.

It has been almost three years since the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) was signed into law, representing one of the most extreme pieces of anti-LBGTQI+ legislation in the world. In that time, the global LGBTQI+ movement has witnessed a notable decline in support for LGBTQI+ rights and movement building across various democratic, legal and humanitarian protection systems. Rainbow Railroad has been closely monitoring the situation in Uganda; since the passing of the AHA, we have received over 3,450 requests for help from Ugandan citizens. In October, Rainbow Railroad hosted a meeting with representatives from Dignity Network Canada, a delegation of advocates opposed to the AHA, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, and trusted partner Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) to discuss the impacts of the bill on human rights defenders and LGBTQI+ persons in Uganda. The Anti-Homosexuality Act: The Continued Impact of Legislated HatredThe AHA seeks to prohibit any form of same-sex intimacy and its promotion or recognition. Prior to the passing of the AHA, same-sex intimacy was already criminalized in Uganda. The Penal Code 1950 criminalizes acts of carnal knowledge against the order of nature’ and ‘gross indecency’, colonial-era provisions which were retained after independence, and are punishable by life in prison. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women ruled last year that criminalization of consensual, same-sex intimacy between women (and by extension, all people) is a human rights violation. Since the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, these requests have grown exponentially with 291% increase compared to 2022. In 2023 alone, we witnessed a 2,057% surge in requests for Help from Uganda compared to the same period in 2022. Our advocacy has included the elevation of calls to action from Ugandan partners such as SMUG, with Canadian civil society and government representatives. Perspectives from the Ground: Coordinating with Local PartnersDuring the meetings hosted in October, our staff were briefed on the barriers faced by human rights defenders and the broader LGBTQI+ community since the passing of the bill.  Partners described how violence towards the LGBTQI+ community remains disproportionately widespread across all systems. There has been a significant rise in the number of internally displaced LGBTQI+ persons due to forced eviction of LGBTQI+ people, which is mandated by the AHA. SMUG also described how global donors operating in Uganda have begun removing any informational materials related to LGBTQI+ care from their programming, a clear indication of how organizations offering LGBTQI+ services are forced to self-censor any LGBTQI+ content for fear of legal or political reprisal. Coupled with the recent cuts to USAID funding for humanitarian aid, many healthcare centers and clinics have been forced to shut down. This erasure means that  many LGBTQI+ Ugandans are unable to access essential care with dignity and respectA representative from Westminster Foundation described how people perceived to be LGBTQI+ are subject to arbitrary arrests; they shared an example of three women who were detained for multiple  days and subjected to forensic testing merely for their suspected affiliation with the LGBTQI+ community. One human rights defender described the bill’s far-reaching effects in portraying LGBTQI+ identity as a threat to the state. They explained how Ugandan LGBTQI+ people have been legally classified as an “aggravated circumstance” under multiple laws, including the HIV Control and Prevention Act and the amended Penal Code. The Future of the LGBTQI+ Movement Across AfricaThis pattern is not unique to Uganda. This year alone, we have witnessed similar developments across the African continent, notably in West Africa, where evangelical coalitions and political regimes are promoting anti-LBGTQI+ sentiment under the guise of moral protection. One of our experts provided a real-life example of how global actors continue to fuel anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric by investing $40 million in establishing “African Centre for the Rehabilitation of LGBTQI+ Persons” effectively creating a conversion therapy institution.In early 2026, Ugandans will head to the polls for a general election. Activists and human rights defenders anticipate heightened arrests and expect that violence and political scapegoating of LGBTQI+ persons will continue to rise. Local LGBTQI+ grassroots organizations such as SMUG remain vital lifelines in providing support to displaced LGBTQI+ peopleA Global Call to ActionStrengthening international partnerships and elevating the calls of local human rights defenders is critical in the ongoing resistance to the anti-LBGTQI+ movement. As far-right and evangelical groups intensify radicalization efforts through political and religious systems, Rainbow Railroad continues to provide ongoing support to Uganda. We have fostered over 15 partnerships with grassroots LGBTQI+ organizations, and provided direct support to over 2,517 people, in the form of advocacy, livelihood assistance and shelter. We call on civil society and governments to continue to support the efforts of the LGBTQI+ movement in Uganda.Canadian Civil Society Organizations can support by: Pressing demand for broader sensitization and capacity building on LGBTQI+ issues, particularly through Know Your Rights workshops. There is an urgent need for sustained engagement with members of Parliament as well as enforcement agencies, acknowledging that many remain unaware of the lived realities and needs of queer communities. Both SMUG and Westminster Foundation have initiated targeted advocacy with MPs, including those involved in youth affairs.Ensuring that key advocates are “in the room,”  informed of agendas and positioned to speak out is critical. For example, participation in forums such as the Family Values Conference has proven effective in influencing public opinion and challenging anti-rights narratives. Our guest shared how the lack of civic spaces to convene has an impact on the momentum of the LGBTQI+ movement. Since the passing of the AHA, avenues for human rights defenders and LGBTQI+  Ugandans people to convene have become nearly non-existent. Organizations cannot afford to ensure consistent representation. For example, only one delegate could attend the ILGA Conference instead of a broader delegation of 20 MPs and advocates. This restricts engagement in both global and local policy dialogues and undermines the visibility of queer rights advocacy in international fora.Producing shadow reports and coalition-led studies helps to amplify local realities and equip advocates with data to challenge existing discriminatory laws. invaluable in building momentum within the  Ugandan LGBTQI movement, offering up practical tools for those on the ground.Engaging the private sector, especially large corporations in the global north. These entities can exert significant influence by publicly opposing regressive laws and adopting internal policies aligned with human rights principles.Encouraging the Government of Canada to mandate inclusive language and policy commitments in its international programming. Canada continues to act as both a convener and amplifier in global advocacy spaces and provides humanitarian assistance to LGBTQI+ movements.

Jannat is a trans woman, activist and artist originally from Lahore, Pakistan. For years, her life was rooted in public visibility and resistance — organizing, advocating, and creating space for trans joy in a country where being openly transgender can be dangerous.“I spent many years fighting for the rights of trans people back home, from organizing the first Trans Pride Pride in Pakistan in 2018 to advocating for legal protections within our legislature,” she shares.For a time, there was cautious hope. Pakistan’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, passed in 2018, offered legal recognition of self-identified gender and opened pathways to identity documents, employment, healthcare, and public participation. But that progress began to unravel.In May 2023, Pakistan’s Federal Shariat Court ruled that key provisions of the Act, including legal recognition of gender identity, were “against Islamic injunctions,” stripping away protections many transgender people relied on for safety and dignity. Human rights organizations and trans activists warned that the ruling weakened legal safeguards, leaving trans people more vulnerable to harassment, discrimination, and violence. In its wake, many cases of abuse went unreported, as legal recourse and recognition disappeared.Jannat felt the impact firsthand and her visibility came at a cost. As anti-LGBTQI+ laws, stigma, and violence intensified, Jannat became increasingly unsafe. “Because of my visibility and activism, I began to face increasing threats to my safety,” she says. “With the support of Rainbow Railroad, I was able to relocate to Toronto, Canada, where I continue my work while rebuilding my life in a place that offers relative safety and space for freedom of expression.”Across the world, LGBTQI+ people are being criminalized simply for who they are — forced to flee not because they choose to leave, but because staying could mean imprisonment, violence, or death. Jannat’s story reflects a growing global crisis of forced displacement driven by anti-trans legislation and persecution.Rebuilding, Creating, BelongingIn Canada, Jannat has begun the complex work of rebuilding. Safety did not instantly erase loss, grief, or uncertainty, but it did make room for healing and growth.“I’ve become more compassionate not just with others, but with myself,” Jannat reflects. “Starting anew in Canada showed me that healing and building can happen together, even when life feels uncertain.”Over the past year, moments of pride and resilience have stood out. Being named Trans Ambassador for Pride Toronto allowed her to bring joy to the trans community during public celebrations. She also represented queer refugee voices in policy spaces, including advocacy at the Canadian Council for Refugees.“I felt especially proud when I saw my art and activism bring people together, especially with Pride Toronto, and community performances that fused my kathak storytelling dance,” she says. “It reminded me that visibility can be powerful when it uplifts others.”Yet challenges remain. “The hardest part has been rebuilding a sense of stability while still grieving the safety I lost in Pakistan,” Jannat shares. “I miss family, familiar rhythms, and the direct work with my community back home.”“Home has transformed from a physical place to a state of belonging,” she adds. “Canada is a home of opportunity and safety, but my heart still carries Pakistan. Home now holds both pain and possibility.”A New Year and an Urgent Call to ActAs the new year begins, Jannat carries both hope and determination. “I’m hopeful for more community spaces where queer refugees can thrive, where art, culture, and advocacy meet healing and safety,” she says. She is determined to “use my voice to build platforms for trans and queer refugees, spaces where their stories are not just heard but celebrated. Therapy through dance.”For Jannat, safety today is deeply personal and profoundly political. “Feeling safe means I can walk outside as my authentic self without fear, speak openly without threat, and create without compromise,” she explains. “It means my identity is respected and protected not just legally, but socially.”She wants the world to understand that refugee journeys do not end at arrival. “It’s not just about reaching safety, it’s about rebuilding identity, staying connected with roots, culture, and belonging, which takes time, compassion, and care from everyone around us.”And she offers this reminder: “Trans refugees are not just stories of pain — we are artists, teachers, dreamers, and community builders. And when we rise, we rise together.”As anti-LGBTQI+ laws continue to force people to flee their homes, stories like Jannat’s underscore both the urgency of this crisis and the power of solidarity. Your support helps ensure that trans and queer people facing persecution can reach safety, and rebuild their lives with dignity.Donate today to help LGBTQI+ refugees find safety, community, and hope in the year ahead.

"Supporting queer refugees is not a nice-to-have; it’s a need-to-have. We’re in this together, that’s the whole point of community.”

Rainbow Railroad is currently participating in the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) 2025 Progress Review in Geneva. The GRF marks a critical moment to maintain momentum and assess progress on pledges made in 2023 by states, non-profits, international non-governmental organizations, and private sector actors to protect refugees. Since the last GRF in 2023, the global humanitarian landscape has shifted dramatically. What began as a crisis shaped by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into an overlapping polycrisis: the rise of anti-gender movements and authoritarian governance, shrinking humanitarian aid, and increasingly impenetrable borders. Together, these trends signal that refugee protection systems are being retooled not to help people survive forced displacement, but to prevent movement altogether. In this context, forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people remain among those most at risk and most often left behind.Globally, wealthier countries host fewer refugees and continue to externalize asylum responsibilities, placing growing pressure on Global South countries to contain displacement, often without adequate resources or safeguards. These shifts have real consequences. In Canada, for example, recent migration reforms such as Bill C-12 - introduced as “integrity measures”- risk narrowing access to refugee protection and further disadvantaging LGBTQI+ refugees, whose claims already face heightened scrutiny and systemic barriers.Against this backdrop, Rainbow Railroad made seven pledges at the GRF in 2023, including commitments to carve out safer LGBTQI+ resettlement pathways, provide relocation support, and foster movement-building initiatives such as the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative. Central to this work is a commitment to LGBTQI+ refugee leadership, ensuring that forcibly displaced and stateless LGBTQI+ people have a meaningful voice in decisions that shape their lives, as well as ensuring that the needs and experiences of LGBTQI+ refugees are no longer invisible within global refugee systems.One of the clearest examples of progress we have made toward our pledges is the Government-Assisted Refugee partnership with the Canadian government—a landmark LGBTQI+-specific pathway allowing Rainbow Railroad to directly refer up to 250 at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees each year without requiring UNHCR recognition. Since the start of the year, 87 people have safely arrived in 16 cities across Canada. This demonstrates what is possible when political courage meets queer expertise. Additionally, through our Queer Forced Displacement Initiative and other movement-building programs, we have invested over $1M CAD in 80 organizations to address the root causes of LGBTQI+ forced displacement, protection and community integration support for queer and trans refugees.Despite this progress, at-risk LGBTQI+ people continue to be subjected to multiple forms of persecution—from discrimination to death, and shrinking access to resettlement pathways. Nearly half of Rainbow Railroad’s clients report surviving violence, including LGBTQI+ people living in refugee camps. And, the collapse of refugee resettlement pathways in the United States increased risk for LGBTQI+ people in life-threatening situations.As we look ahead to the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, Rainbow Railroad remains committed to investing in LGBTQI+ organizations globally, sustaining our data-driven and movement-building Queer Forced Displacement Initiative, expanding access to resettlement pathways for LGBTQI+ refugees, and providing cash assistance to at-risk LGBTQI+ people in their countries of residence.Rainbow Railroad continues to ensure that LGBTQI+ refugees are visible, protected, and supported within global refugee responses. As we take stock in Geneva, one principle must remain clear: “Ubuntu, I am because you are.” In that spirit, LGBTQI+ refugees cannot and will not be left behind. We call on our community to sustain these efforts and help us achieve our GRF pledge goals over the next two years in preparation for the next GRF in 2027. You can support by contributing to our 60in60 campaign, and echoing our call for governments to expand resettlement pathways for LGBTQI+ refugees.

For many LGBTQI+ refugees, arriving in Canada is meant to mark the end of a long journey toward safety. But the struggle doesn’t stop at the border. Racism, transphobia, and homophobia can still surface in shelters, workplaces, and even newcomer communities. Finding stable housing, meaningful employment, or affirming healthcare often feels like an uphill climb. And for those still processing the trauma of persecution and displacement, isolation can deepen the pain.It’s this reality that moved Christopher, Executive Director of the African Centre for Refugees (ACR), to create a space where LGBTQI+ newcomers could find healing, connection, and belonging.“The African Centre for Refugees is a newcomer-led, volunteer-driven registered charity,” Christopher explains. “We support LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers, and newcomers from Africa and other regions who are rebuilding their lives in Canada after fleeing persecution. Our mission is to create safe spaces, promote inclusion, and provide practical assistance from housing support and peer counseling to community education and advocacy for queer and trans migrants.”Founded in 2019 by LGBTQI+ newcomers with lived experience of displacement, ACR emerged as a grassroots initiative determined to fill the gaps left by larger agencies.“Our work is driven by lived experience and the belief that every newcomer deserves dignity, belonging, and safety,” Christopher says. “We saw a clear need for culturally specific, trauma-informed support that larger agencies often overlooked. This sense of solidarity and mutual care continues to inspire our team today.”A Lifeline of Connection and CareWith support from Rainbow Railroad’s Community Access Fund, ACR launched Pulse Chat, a peer-led mental health and communication program providing both virtual and in-person support for LGBTQI+ newcomers.“This funding allowed us to maintain weekly sessions covering topics like coping with trauma, finding safe housing, immigration information, and building confidence in a new environment,” Christopher explains.The funding also helped ACR provide internet access subsidies, translation support, and small stipends for facilitators with lived experience, ensuring that the community could lead and sustain the work themselves.Through the grant, the organization also delivered virtual mental health sessions, emergency food and transit assistance, referral services, peer mentorship programs, and capacity building for volunteers and facilitators. The impact was far-reaching.“We reached over 150 LGBTQI+ newcomers and refugees in Toronto and the surrounding regions,” says Christopher. “Many participants reported improved mental health, stronger social connections, and renewed confidence to engage in community life. Several have since become peer leaders themselves — showing the ripple effect of this support.”One moment, in particular, stands out to her.“A transgender woman who had just arrived from Uganda shared how the Pulse Chat became her ‘first safe space’ in Canada,” Christopher recalls. “Through our sessions, she found both emotional support and connections that helped her secure stable housing. Her transformation from isolation to empowerment embodies what this fund made possible.”Trust, Flexibility, and Lived ExperienceFor Christopher and her team, receiving support from the Community Access Fund meant more than just financial relief — it was validation. “Receiving this funding was deeply affirming,” she says. “It validated the work of grassroots, newcomer-led initiatives and recognized that people with lived experience of displacement are best positioned to lead change.”And the trust-based approach made a meaningful difference. Unlike many traditional grants, Rainbow Railroad’s model emphasizes flexibility.“Their trust-based, low-barrier approach gave us freedom to design projects based on real community needs, rather than strict institutional frameworks,” Christopher explains. “Their flexibility allowed us to respond quickly to emergencies, such as helping newcomers find safe spaces, while maintaining accountability and transparency.”She believes this kind of partnership offers valuable lessons for larger organizations and funders. Authentic community impact, she says, flourishes when relationships and trust come before bureaucracy. “Grassroots groups often understand their communities in ways that data can’t capture,” she notes. “When funders remove unnecessary red tape and center lived experience, real change happens.”Building a More Inclusive CanadaLooking ahead, Christopher and her team hope to expand their reach by creating a Community Resource and Wellness Hub — a dedicated space for LGBTQI+ newcomers to gather, learn, and thrive.Their vision is clear: a future where every queer refugee in Canada finds safety, belonging, and opportunity.Christopher's message to allies and supporters is equally clear: solidarity starts with listening. “Understand the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ migrants. Offer your time, your resources, your voice. Small acts — attending an event, donating, volunteering — can make a big difference.”She pauses, reflecting on how far ACR has come — and how much work remains. “We’re not just offering services,” she says softly. “We’re rebuilding lives, restoring hope, and creating a more inclusive Canada for all.” Help sustain transformative grassroots programs like this. Donate today and support community-led initiatives that help LGBTQI+ refugees find safety, stability, and belonging. 

Adam and Sami’s love story began quietly in a small Moroccan town. “We met in 2023 and spent wonderful days together,” they shared. “But soon suspicions arose because we live in a small town and people around us started noticing. Despite this, our bond grew stronger and being together gave us comfort and happiness.”That comfort quickly gave way to fear. When their families discovered their relationship, the young couple — Adam, 23, and Sami, 19 — suddenly faced the very real threat of violence and death. “We lived in constant fear,” they said. “Every day was terrifying, and there was no place we could call safe. We were trapped in a life with no privacy, no security, and constant anxiety. Our meals were limited, and our income was unstable. We had no hope of a future.”For many LGBTQI+ people living in countries where same-sex relationships are criminalized, stories like Adam and Sami’s are tragically common. What’s far less common is access to the kind of support that can transform a life.A Lifeline When Everything Seemed LostAdam and Sami first learned about Rainbow Railroad when they were in desperate need of help. “They came into our lives like a miracle,” they said. “They gave us life, hope, and a future when everything seemed lost.”Through emergency cash assistance, Rainbow Railroad covered what they needed to stay safe and start rebuilding — from identification cards and passports to housing, food, medical care, and travel expenses. “They took care of every detail,” Adam and Sami explained. “They even organized and covered everything we needed to leave Morocco safely, including plane tickets, clothes, and accommodations.”For the first time, they could imagine a future beyond fear. “Their help meant that for the first time, we felt completely safe and could start dreaming about the future.”Independence, Dignity, and a Future Free from FearCash assistance doesn’t just keep people alive — it helps them rebuild with independence and dignity. “The cash assistance allowed us to access a stable home, food, healthcare, documents, and everything necessary to rebuild our lives,” they said. “It gave us independence, dignity, and the ability to plan a future free from fear.”Before receiving help, their lives were precarious. “We lived in a tiny room, two meters by three, on the roof of a building with no privacy and no security. Every night was filled with fear. Every day we worried about our safety and survival. Without Rainbow Railroad, we would not be alive today, and our dreams would have been impossible.”Adam and Sami’s story is a testament to the power of direct, flexible financial support — and to the donors who make it possible. “Because of their generosity, we could finally feel hope, safety, and freedom,” they said. “We are forever grateful to the entire Rainbow Railroad team. Their kindness restored our faith in humanity. Their support changed our lives completely and gave us a chance to live fully.”“You Are Not Alone”Now, in a safer place, Adam and Sami are beginning to think about the future — not just for themselves, but for others who are still at risk. “Newcomers need safety, shelter, food, healthcare, education, understanding, acceptance, and emotional support,” they said. “By listening, offering help, and standing against discrimination, people can give LGBTQI+ newcomers hope, dignity, and a chance to dream again.”For them, queer liberation means “being able to live openly without fear, to love freely, and express ourselves honestly. It is about safety, respect, dignity, and the chance to build a better future.”Their message to others facing persecution is one of hope: “You are not alone. Stay strong, believe in yourself, and never give up hope. Even in the darkest times, remember that your life has value and that there are people who care and support you.”The Need Has Never Been GreaterRainbow Railroad’s immediate cash support program is a lifeline for people like Adam and Sami — a lifeline that depends on donor generosity. Each dollar provides urgent food, safe shelter, travel, and the chance to rebuild a life with dignity.Adam and Sami’s journey was made possible because someone, somewhere, chose to give. You can be that someone. Donate today to help LGBTQI+ people in danger find safety and hope.

We are currently living through a period of profound global regression. A coordinated anti-gender backlash is actively dismantling international human rights frameworks and fuelling forced displacement at unprecedented levels.In times of crisis, the needs of LGBTQI+ refugees are often invisibilized and overlooked within the design of both humanitarian and refugee protection systems.  Rainbow Railroad works at the intersection of multiple and overlapping crises: climate collapse, political repression, armed conflict, and a dangerous rise in anti-LGBTQI+ hate. Each year, we receive tens of thousands of requests for assistance from LGBTQI+ individuals seeking urgent international protection.These requests are more than just cries for help. They are data. They reveal a troubling pattern,  the convergence of democratic backsliding with rising anti-LGBTQI+ sentiments in places like Afghanistan, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Yemen, and Pakistan.This erosion is particularly dangerous for LGBTQI+ refugees living in transit countries, many of whom face criminalization, violence, and state-sponsored persecution. For many LGBTQI+ people impacted by forced displacement, third-country resettlement is not merely a legal mechanism; it is a vital means of protection. It is a lifeline. Yet last year, less than 5% of individuals seeking Rainbow Railroad’s assistance had UNHCR-registered refugee status.Standing in Brave SpacesAt Rainbow Railroad, we believe that building durable solutions for LGBTQI+ forced displacement begins with centering the expertise and stories of LGBTQI+ refugees at every stage of our advocacy.In June, Rainbow Railroad joined the Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (IE SOGI), Graeme Reid, for the release of his groundbreaking report on LGBTQI+ forced displacement at the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva.As a global advocate, Rainbow Railroad seeks to carve out spaces where LGBTQI+ refugees can directly advocate for and shape the design of inclusive humanitarian protection policies, expanding visibility and safety within systems that are, by design, exclusionaryIn co-sponsorship with ILGA World and with the support of the Group of Friends of the IE SOGI, we hosted a side event that brought together over 100 state representatives, activists, academics, individuals with lived experience, NGOs, and UN agencies for a dedicated dialogue on LGBTQI+ forced displacement. At the event we observed a noticeable gap left by the absence of the United States, which had previously held a strong leadership role in advancing protection for LGBTQI+ individuals and promoting diverse global interests. Rainbow Railroad was also able to leverage its consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to provide access to 17 individuals, enabling them to advocate for LGBTQI+ rights at the highest levels of the UN. ECOSOC status enables Rainbow Railroad and its partners to participate in nearly all major UN events, enabling opportunities for legitimate contributions to relevant subject matter.Leading from Lived ExperienceAmong the participants was Basel Hamrah, founding member and leader of Rainbow Refuge, a newcomer centre based in Edmonton, Alberta. Basel is an active member of the Canadian Council for Refugees and advocates for the transformative power of resettlement pathways. Basel’s story is emblematic of many people who have been impacted by forced displacement and who now serve in leadership roles within their communities. The creation of such side events provides a platform where LGBTQI+ advocates and allies can add value and depth to ongoing discussions on refugee protections while calling for concrete, sustained action to support forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ persons across all humanitarian protection mechanisms.As the queer movement faces growing repression, standing brave in contentious spaces is not only symbolic but also strategic. The renewal of the IE SOGI’s mandate ensures that this critical work, data collection, reporting, and advocacy can continue over the next three years. And with it, Rainbow Railroad renews its commitment to keeping the rights of forcibly displaced  LGBTQI+ people and refugees at the centre of humanitarian and refugee protection systems.