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When Rainbow Railroad first started in 2006, the volunteer-run organization focused on helping LGBTQI+ people from Jamaica, a country then referred to as “the most homophobic place on earth.” Twenty years later, both the organization and the demand for our work have evolved. Today, Rainbow Railroad is an international human rights organization that supports forcibly displaced queer and trans people worldwide, far beyond just the Caribbean. At the core of this work is our response to global requests for help. Regions in Need: Where Requests for Help Come From In 2025, Rainbow Railroad received 20,215 requests for help from individuals in over 170 countries — the highest in the organization’s 20-year history and a 51% increase from the year prior. The bulk of these requests came from North America (33.4%) — nine in ten of which originated in the United States. That was followed by the Middle East and North Africa (26.2%), Sub-Saharan Africa (17.3%), and Asia (15%). In addition to the US, Uganda, Pakistan, Egypt, and Afghanistan were among the leading sources of requests for help. Read More: The Anti-Homosexuality Act Now: The Path Forward for LGBTQI+ Rights in UgandaPeople in the US often pointed to their fear of future persecution, and the rise of anti-LGBTQI+ laws as reasons for their outreach. By contrast, those living in countries like Uganda request help because of the ongoing criminalization they face due to their sexual orientation or gender identity through laws such as the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act — one of the most extreme pieces of anti-LGBTQI+ legislation passed in recent years. Who They Are Young people notably made up the majority of requests for help we received in 2025. People aged 18-25 represented 40% of all the requests we received, closely followed by people in the 26-35 age group.There are many drivers of displacement that force queer and trans people to request help. Political instability or armed conflict, for instance, are two major factors to keep in mind. More than two-thirds of requests came from citizens requesting help from within their country of citizenship. Still, more than 6,000 requests came from people who were asylum seekers, registered refugees, or had some other status — meaning they had already fled their home in search of safety. International relocation was the primary support service requested from individuals, followed by shelter and housing assistance. The global queer forced displacement crisis is accelerating at an unprecedented scale as safe pathways to safety continue to vanish. From Jamaica to Uganda, LGBTQI+ individuals are facing escalating state-sponsored persecution and violence. Rainbow Railroad remains committed to assisting LGBTQI+ people in need, but the roadmap to safety has become increasingly complex as governments retreat from refugee protection. We call on our global community of supporters, partners and policymakers to confront the growing crisis of queer forced displacement, expand pathways to safety, and ensure LGBTQI+ people are not left with nowhere to turn.Subscribe to our newsletter below to learn more about our work. Want to help? Click here to donate today. 

Before boarding the plane to the Netherlands, Nazhyme recalls feeling tense about many things, including, most significantly, whether his daughter could tolerate the more than 12-hour journey ahead. But miraculously, he slept. “It was almost like sleeping while holding my breath, as if I was trying to store rest in my body while everything inside me was still tense,” Nazhyme, who is transmasculine, says. “I did not know when I would feel safe enough to rest again, so I took it then.”Nazhyme relocated to the Netherlands in 2024 to escape persecution in his home country of Jamaica. He initially reached out to Rainbow Railroad two years earlier, after his gender identity and activism started to pose a risk for his family, escalating to the point where he had to abandon his house and move from Airbnb to Airbnb. While he is thankful for the support US-based nonprofits provided during this time of immediate need, it was clear to him that his family needed to leave to ensure his children had the stability they deserved. “The months leading up to my relocation were intense, emotional, and filled with both urgency and uncertainty,” he says. “I was trying to hold everything together while preparing for a future I could not fully see, but knew I had to step into.”  Life in the Netherlands Now that he has a residence permit, Nazhyme feels hopeful about the opportunity to build a home in a place where he can continue his advocacy work — this time without the same risks. The freedom to work in and for the LGBTQI+ community is Nazhyme’s favorite thing about the Netherlands thus far. “I get to be a part of change. I get to go inside different asylum centers and speak to refugees about their trauma and help them to understand what their triggers are,” he says. “Jump[ing] back into volunteering fills me, it keeps me going.”Some of the highlights of the past year include conducting workshops on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia for the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers, participating in a Trans Day of Visibility event, and representing other asylum seekers like himself. There are also tender interactions that have moved him to tears: being shown a private restroom when he felt conflicted about what bathroom to use, the kindness he was met with upon his asylum declaration, and more. “Resettlement is not just about relocation,” he says. “It's about rebuilding a sense of self, safety, and belonging. And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as someone noticing you, understanding you, and quietly showing you where you belong.”Reflecting on His LGBTQI+ Ancestors For Nazhyme, Pride evokes feelings of “joy, shared community, and belonging.” Seeing it as a space where he’s not only “accepted” but “celebrated,” Pride functions as a feeling and space where he remembers that he can exist fully and apologetically. Rainbow Railroad’s theme for this year’s Pride campaign, Solidarity in Pride: Then. Now. Always., deeply resonates with him. He reflects on the freedoms that he is able to have thanks to the strides made by those that came before him. “There were people who believed I deserved to be here, to be safe, to be seen, and to be loved. Some of them gave their lives to make that possible,” he says. Looking ahead to the future, he commits to creating a world that is more compassionate and resilient than what he inherited. You can help Rainbow Railroad support other families like Nazhyme's this Pride. Consider donating to us this month as we continue to support generations of LGBTQI+ people to come. 

Rainbow Railroad is proud to announce the launch of its new Client Portal. With this tool we are improving the way we communicate with the people we support.This new Client Portal reflects our commitment to the dignity, safety, and agency of every LGBTQI+ person. The Portal is designed to be accessible and easy to navigate in five languages – English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. It gives clients direct access to their case status and information, makes it easier to communicate with our team, and adapts to individual circumstances, providing tailored information and resources. Now people will be able to see their cases managed in real time. This transparency will be critical to the people we serve and can reduce fear and uncertainty in times of crisis.This is more than just a technology upgrade. We know that LGBTQI+ people fleeing persecution face overwhelming uncertainty – waiting to hear about their case, not knowing what comes next, and being afraid of getting lost in systems beyond their control. The people we support are taking control of their own lives, and they deserve transparency and ownership over their cases. We have built this tool with strong security protections to safeguard sensitive personal information. Access to information is power, and Rainbow Railroad’s Client Portal is one more way we are working to put that power in the hands of the people we serve. Special thanks to the WES Mariam Assefa Fund for your generous support in making the Client Portal possible and recognizing the value and importance of this work.

For Courtney Allain and the Get REAL team, the annual collaboration between Rainbow Railroad and the Get REAL Movement, both of which support LGBTQI+ individuals, felt like a “natural choice” given the organizations’ overlapping core values.That may be why the Get REAL Movement is partnering with Rainbow Railroad for the fifth year in a row for a virtual 5K fundraiser. “[Rainbow Railroad’s] focus on helping people escape life‑threatening persecution felt like a powerful extension of our own work to combat discrimination and build empathy through education,” said Allain, a chapter and events manager at Get REAL. “It felt less like ‘fundraising’ in the traditional sense and more like being part of something with purpose, alongside a bunch of other people who care.”  Read More: Your Fundraising Questions, AnsweredThe Rainbow Road 5K will help queer families in Canada and across the globe feel safe in workplaces, classrooms, and more. Get REAL works towards that goal by establishing workshops to fight against 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination, racism, and bullying. The organization has raised more than $30,000 for Rainbow Railroad over the last half-decade. This year, they’re hoping to go even farther and meet that $50,000 benchmark. The collaboration helps bring light and fun to organizations that take on tough work. “Supporting a serious cause doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time—it can be fun, it can build community, and it can bring people together in unexpected ways,” says Allain, who points to a fundraising team that decided to kayak in Lake Ontario from Toronto to support the cause.  Now more than ever, it's important to show how similar causes can lift each other up, instead of “competing for audiences, dollars, time, and exposure,” she adds. “I don’t think safety should be a privilege—I think it should be a right,” says Allain. “I hope our fundraising efforts help move us closer to that, while also helping people recognize that what feels “normal” or “safe” for them isn’t the reality everywhere.”The 5K will officially take place on Friday, June 26th, though participants can choose to take part in the fun at any point before then. Want to join in on the fun? Sign up for the Rainbow Road 5k or consider hosting your own fundraiser for Rainbow Railroad, today.

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

For years, Jumana lived under a cloud of instability.  When she first reached out to Rainbow Railroad for help in 2019, the 45-year-old trans woman reported experiencing family persecution — abusive behaviors by relatives who do not accept someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation — forcing her to constantly be on the move to avoid being tracked down. These personal circumstances, coupled with Egyptian state persecution of LGBTQI+ people, posed risks to her life. “It's not legal to be trans or LGBTQ in my country… [and] unfortunately, it was a very bad life for me,” says Jumana, who now lives in Germany. “I decided to relocate anywhere to live my life as I feel and to feel free and also to be safe.”Jumana is one of hundreds of individuals who Rainbow Railroad has assisted in recent years through Emergency Travel Support (ETS), a core organizational program that helps at-risk queer and trans asylum seekers access international relocation. The need for help in her country of origin is dire. Rainbow Railroad has received more than 2,000 requests for help from people living in Egypt since 2021. More than a third of individuals cited family persecution as one of their concerns, though they also mentioned societal persecution, threats, harassment, violence, and more. Across the African continent, in particular, the need to support LGBTQI+ identifying people is quite significant: More than two dozen African countries have strict policies outlawing consensual same-sex relations, largely due to their colonial legacy. Read More: The Unequal Impact of Colonial Laws on Black LGBTQI+ LivesWhile the weight of such circumstances can be stifling at times, Jumana encourages other asylum seekers like her to try to “be strong and believe” in their dreams to have the strength to keep going. That mental fortitude is what kept her safe on her own journey, despite concerns that “something bad would happen.” “I told myself to be confident and be strong, as it was my chance to get a better life,” says Jumana. “Then, when I passed through border control… it was really very good — a moment I can't forget for the rest of my life. It was like a dream for me.”Jumana was finally able to relocate in 2023. Now, she says she feels “safe and free.” “My life is stable, I am trying to learn the language, and I am working part-time while studying. The best things here are the respect and the support,” she says. Reflecting on the theme of this year’s Pride campaign “Solidarity in Pride: Then. Now. Always,” Jumana points to the need to learn from past mistakes in order to progress forward. “We should accept everything and try to improve ourselves,” she says, “and learn from the past mistakes for a better life.”Help Rainbow Railroad continue to support at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees by making a donation today. Celebrate Pride by reading the stories of other newcomers we’ve assisted, here. 

Today, queer and trans visibility is growing increasingly precarious: In the United States, the National Park Service temporarily removed the Pride flag at the Stonewall National Monument to comply with administrative regulations. In Russia, authorities fined and jailed locals for displaying rainbow-colored items. And in the private sector, corporations, institutions, and businesses have opted to reduce funding for Pride events, end sponsorships, and remove rainbow flags from their brick-and-mortars. But despite this global retreat, organizers like Lelling are creatively fighting against anti-LGBTQI+ policies by creating virtual safe spaces for all to enjoy. Lelling is one of the masterminds behind Tyria Pride, an annual online gaming event that raises funds for Rainbow Railroad. The Pride event gathers players from across the globe — including regions where same-sex relations are still criminalized — at Ebonhawke in the video game Guild Wars 2. Together, players gather to take part in an in-game Pride march towards the gates of Rata Sum in Metrica Province. How Gathering Virtually Breeds Inclusivity The virtual aspect of the game offers queer and trans people who may be hiding their true identity the freedom to discretely attend a Pride event. “Many people might be closeted or simply feel unsafe, so an online event like Tyria Pride can offer anonymity and privacy while still being able to connect with other queer people, and because it all happens in a video game, it doesn’t leave digital footprints like searching queer terms would,” says Lelling. “For many, it has been a doorway into exploring their queerness for the very first time.” This June, Tyria Pride will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary. To run, the month-long celebration relies on the generosity of streamers, volunteers, artists, and gamers who are willing to contribute in-game prizes, and organize in-game events.  The power of community can be a moving experience. “It can be pretty overwhelming to see how far our fundraising has reached over the years, and to think about that effort turning into direct impact can be very emotional. It’s a very powerful and inspiring feeling,” says Lelling, who is queer. They were inspired to start fundraising for Rainbow Railroad “in light of worsening trends for LGBTQI+ protections around the world.” That backsliding is reflected in the increased calls for help Rainbow Railroad received in 2025. More than 20,000 requests from individuals were submitted last year, marking the highest in the organization's history. Despite the current state of the world, Lelling hopes that LGBTQI+ asylum seekers and refugees who need help remember that while they may feel alone, “there is an entire community of people out in the world that wants you to feel safe and loved.” Rainbow Railroad relies on the support of amazing fundraisers, like Lelling, to continue our work. Consider rallying your community with the goal of helping queer and trans refugees, today. 

Indulge in some retail therapy and support Rainbow Railroad’s vital work

For more than a decade, Rainbow Railroad has recognized “conversion therapy” as a tool of displacement — a method for making LGBTQI+ lives uninhabitable, in the body, in the home, and in the country. “Conversion therapy,” which refers to a range of “dangerous and discredited practices” aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, has recently dominated headlines. On March 31, 2026, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a decision in Chiles v. Salazar, a case that considered how “conversion therapy” can be regulated.  In the 8-1 decision, SCOTUS ruled that Colorado’s state law banning such practices regulated the speech of the therapist in the case, and the lower court did not properly evaluate it. This means that “conversion therapy” can be protected speech under the First Amendment, and the case was sent back to the US Court of Appeals for reconsideration. This decision has an immediate impact on the people Rainbow Railroad works with every day; it retraumatizes survivors, threatens to upend asylum claims, and lends legitimacy to the very practices that forced them to flee home.Rainbow Railroad's unique case data confirms that “conversion therapy” is a driver of displacement.A Growing Crisis for LGBTQI+ People in the USRainbow Railroad has received nearly 80,000 requests for help since its founding. Of the 465 requests for help that specifically mentioned “conversion therapy” practices, nearly one in three came from the United States. This proportion ties in to a broader trend. In 2023, one out of eight overall requests for help came from the United States, and in 2024, one out of every five requests for help originated from the United States. In 2025, this increased to one out of every three requests. Our data is clear: LGBTQI+ people in the United States do not feel safe. The numbers reflect the reality that “conversion therapy” institutionalizes stigma and rejection, leading to worse mental and physical health outcomes for LGBTQI+ people. Survivors have nearly double the odds of lifetime suicidal ideation and an 88% increased likelihood of attempting it. The US, once a desirable destination for LGBTQI+ migrants, now tops the list of countries where citizens, and particularly trans people, are asking for help.This Supreme Court decision may undermine the protections against “conversion therapy” in more than 23 states and the District of Columbia. The ruling also undermines protections for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in the US who have fled these practices in their countries of origin.In response to the Chiles v. Salazar ruling, CEO of Rainbow Railroad, Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, stated, “This decision doesn’t just retraumatize survivors. It risks creating a barrier to asylum claims. A Supreme Court that treats ‘conversion therapy’ as protected speech could make it harder to demonstrate that being subjected to these practices abroad constitutes a ‘credible fear’ of persecution.”Beyond the Border: Implications of the Ruling Abroad The implications of Chiles v. Salazar extend far beyond Colorado. Its consequences displace the most vulnerable, shrink the map of safety for people fleeing persecution, and embolden the governments already working to do the same.America’s influence on the conditions in which “conversion therapy” flourishes around the globe has been extensively documented. For instance, between 2007 and 2020, over 20 US evangelical organizations spent at least $54 million in Africa to influence law, policy, and public opinion against sexual and reproductive rights, and have been directly linked to anti-LGBTQI+ legislation in Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. The irony is stark. The same political movement that has defunded health clinics, gutted humanitarian aid, and abandoned communities across the globe never stopped writing checks to export homophobia. For communities that lost access to American aid, the only dollars still reliably arriving are the ones financing their persecution.Ghana illustrates where this trajectory leads. The country has repeatedly considered anti-LGBTQI+ legislation that would go beyond criminalizing same-sex intimacy and mandate that people suspected of being LGBTQI+ undergo “conversion therapy” or face up to five years in prison. It would also subject intersex individuals to forced medical intervention, at their own financial and psychological expense. This is “conversion therapy” as a tool of displacement. Submit to conversion, survive imprisonment, or flee. For many LGBTQI+ Ghanaians, these are not choices; they are the terms of their displacement.Incremental Momentum: Global Moves to Restrict Conversion Therapy But the fight is far from over. On May 7, 2026, the Colorado General Assembly passed revised legislation intended to address the First Amendment guidance in Chiles v. Salazar, while preserving the state’s protections against “conversion therapy.” Federal legislation in the US has long been proposed that could curb many of the threats posed by the Chiles v. Salazar decision. First introduced in 2015, the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act would classify providing or advertising “conversion therapy” in exchange for monetary compensation as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. This approach reflects the same standard that the UN Independent Forensic Expert Group has applied in declaring forced conversion practices fraud. Passing this bill would be a meaningful step toward closing the patchwork of gaps that has allowed the practice to persist and relocate across borders.Encouragingly, the international community has increasingly moved to ban “conversion therapy.” Canada banned the practice in 2022. On April 29, 2026, the European Parliament voted in support of a ban on “conversion therapy” across the European Union. The European Commission has declined to enact an EU-wide ban, instead urging member states to enact national bans.LGBTQI+ people are already enduring violence and fleeing persecution, and Rainbow Railroad will continue to help survivors access safety. The decision in Chiles v. Salazar demands an urgent, coordinated response from Congress, state institutions, and the international community that has long named “conversion therapy” for what it is: abusive, inhuman, and discriminatory. No court decision changes that. Justice cannot be deliberated while people are being displaced. It is time to act.

From Insight to Action: Launching the Queer Forced Displacement Network (QFDN)May 6-8, 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand & OnlineThe culminating conference of Rainbow Railroad’s Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI).After two years of regional consultations across five countries, an Academic Symposium, and the co-creation of a draft Multi-Stakeholder Declaration, we are ready to turn insight into action.This conference will officially launch the Queer Forced Displacement Network — a global network advancing protection, advocacy, and coordinated support for LGBTQI+ people experiencing forced displacement. The conference agenda can be viewed here.Conference highlights:Launch QFDN with an interim governance structure and leadershipShare key findings from regional consultations and the academic symposiumBuild connections and align stakeholders on common goalsHost strategic discussions to strengthen protection, advocacy and support globallyEndorse the draft Multi-Stakeholder Declaration committing to safety, rights, and inclusion for LGBTQI+ people facing forced displacement worldwideThe conference will bring together civil society, governments, UN agencies, funders, academics, and people with lived experience of forced displacement from around the world.Registration Deadline: March 16, 2026Attendance OptionsIn-Person – Bangkok, Thailand: Participate fully in all sessions and networking opportunities. Please note that in-person attendance is self-funded. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. *** In-person spaces are limited and selection will be based on space availability ***Online: Join virtually through our online platform with full access to sessions and discussions.For questions or additional information, please contact us at QFDI@rainbowrailroad.orgReports and PublicationsDraft Multi-Stakeholder Declaration Summary Findings on Roundtable #1 of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative: MexicoConclusiones Del Primer Foro De Discusión De La Iniciativa Sobre El Desplazamiento Forzado Queer: MéxicoSummary Findings on Roundtable #2 of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative: South AfricaSummary Findings on Roundtable #3 of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative: ThailandSummary Findings on Roundtable #4 of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative: TürkiyeSummary Findings on Roundtable #5 of the Queer Forced Displacement Initiative: KenyaThe Missing Jigsaw: Cross-Regional Findings from the Frontlines and the Case for the Queer Forced Displacement NetworkDisplacement & Difference: Harnessing Research to Address LGBTQI+ Forced Migration Post-Symposium ReportData, Directions, Gaps, and Recommendations: A Review of the Current State of Literature on Queer Forced Displacement

The 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was a milestone for LBTQI+ women worldwide, and for Rainbow Railroad. In a first for us, we partnered to host three important events. Firstly, with the Organization for Refuge, Asylum and Migration (ORAM), then again with the Permanent Missions of Canada and Mexico, and lastly with Outright International and Global South partners. Our takeaway from CSW: we need to turn up the volume on queer women’s voices. The world needs to hear what they are saying.During this CSW, the United States and their collaborators tried to strip trans people from the official text of the UN. They galvanized an international syndicate of anti-LGBTQI+ states to cement a binary definition of gender in official UN doctrine. They are still targeting the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which provides sexual and reproductive health services, and UN Women, which works to advance gender justice. As we watch the United States pull back from a commitment to gender rights, LGBTQI+ refugee organizations, especially those led by and serving LBTQI+ women, are unable to respond to emergencies or emerging crises. This regressive policymaking will hurt trans and queer women around the globe, impacting their safety and mobility.We learned that the world has a lot of work to do toward building inclusive justice solutions, not just for displaced LBTQI+ women but with them. Rainbow Railroad spent the week elevating the issue of queer forced displacement in every room and in every conversation to mobilize the global community to respond to this crisis. At every meeting and on every panel discussion, we reminded policy makers and allies that the world is backsliding on rights and queer people are feeling it first. We told allies and partners that the world needs more safe, inclusive pathways for queer people. And we told them we have a model that the world can recreate.The Queer Forced Displacement Initiative (QFDI) is Rainbow Railroad’s next contribution to this work. The QFDI is a unique project to co-create an international network on LGBTQI+ forced displacement. The work we have done building the QFDI has allowed us to reflect on who is missing from the design of protection systems. The QFDI shows us that intersecting forms of discrimination are making it next to impossible for the most vulnerable to access justice. After two years of work, holding roundtables across the Global South, meeting with other advocates and learning from those who have lived these experiences, it is time to expand our “Initiative” into a “Network.” The QFDN is our new coordinated global network dedicated to improving protection, advocacy, and support for LGBTQI+ people experiencing forced displacement. The QFDN will be a tool of coordination that strengthens protection and community support globally. After our final conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 6-8, our initiative will become a network for action. The QFDN will use its expertise to respond to the crises that continue to face queer people in every region of the globe. This is a collaborative response to the crisis of queer forced displacement. It is the first global network to do this work at scale. And it will grow. At Rainbow Railroad we operate under the notion that LBTQI+ women must be at every decision-making table, not as tokens but as leaders and experts shaping the very systems meant to protect them. Presence and persistence are an important part of our work, especially when building partnerships grounded in shared values. We met with state representatives from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom to explore how feminist policy translates into real-world safety and justice for LBTQI+ women. We hope to reach this horizon in stabilizing pathways for LBTQI+ women in humanitarian crises, as we believe access to justice comes down to who is counted and who is funded, a fundamental principle and fact in the movement toward queer liberation. Our data is clear. Between 2015 and 2025, more than ten thousand LBTQI+ women reached out to Rainbow Railroad requesting help. Even though these requests come from different regions with distinct political and social problems, they show us one pattern: When laws criminalize, stigmatize, or fail to protect the most vulnerable women, displacement follows. Following CSW, we will continue to:Include LBTQI+ women as visionary partners in our work to build new pathways to safety, and reinforce and expand existing ones. Ensure that the specific needs, experiences, and rights of LBTQI+ women are fully integrated, considered and reflected in every humanitarian protection system.And call on states and other international donors to support our work, and the work of local, refugee-led organizations through the QFDI. 

Freedom Party Toronto, Rainbow Railroad's annual kick-off to Pride season, returns Thursday, June 11th for a night of electrifying queer celebration and solidarity!At this year’s Freedom Party, we will honour two decades of Rainbow Railroad’s vital work, supporting more than 40,000 LGBTQI+ individuals. We’re celebrating a reunion our community has been waiting for: Priyanka, Scarlett Bobo, and Lemon will reunite on stage to celebrate the iconic Canada's Drag Race episode featuring Rainbow Railroad. The main event will be hosted by hometown favourites Jax Irwin and Gay Italian Nonna, and include a performance by Alaska.Featuring food, drinks, and music from the legendary DJ Phillippe all night long, Freedom Party is the can't-miss event of Pride. And every ticket supports Rainbow Railroad’s vital mission of helping at-risk LGBTQI+ around the world get to safety. 📅 Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026🍽️ Anniversary Dinner : 6:30 pm🎉 Party: 8:30 pm – late📍 Location: Royal Ontario MuseumGet Your Tickets HereFreedom Party Toronto is made possible thanks to the generous support of Anniversary Sponsor The Ordinary! and Event Sponsors The Ariadne Getty Foundation and GatoNegro.