‘Silence Was Not Survival’: How Dennis Turned His Story into Action

Dennis, now a Program Officer for Resettlement at Rainbow Railroad, has lived both sides of the organization’s mission. “I am a refugee from Uganda who arrived in Canada in 2019 with the assistance of Rainbow Railroad,” he says. His path here was marked by both profound danger and unwavering courage.

“I was born and raised in a country where being gay is not just a taboo — it’s a crime,” Dennis explains. “A place where the law, the church, the community, and even family often work in concert to erase people like me. From a young age, I learned that love could be dangerous, that being honest about who I was could cost me everything.”

“But even as I lived in fear, I also lived in truth. I couldn’t pretend to be someone I wasn’t. And when I saw others like me — beaten, arrested, thrown out of school, or disowned by their families — I knew I had to do something.”

Dennis refused to surrender. “Silence was not survival. Silence was surrender. And I was not ready to surrender.”

A Life Shaped by Defiance and Activism

His activism began with conversations, online posts, and underground meetings with LGBTQI+ youth who had nowhere else to go. He connected them with shelter, legal aid, and mental health support. Over time, he built networks of solidarity that stretched beyond Uganda’s borders. “What began as a personal mission brought me into a movement,” he says.

But visibility came with consequences. Police followed him in the streets, warning him to stop his “un-African behavior”. His picture circulated in online hate campaigns. Some of his friends distanced themselves, fearing association. His own family fractured under the pressure of stigma and threats. “The country I loved, the people I had grown up with, now looked at me with suspicion, disgust, even hatred,” Dennis recalls.

Eventually, the threats became impossible to manage. “I couldn’t sleep in the same place for more than a few nights. I avoided public spaces. I lost count of how many times I had to escape through back doors or alleyways. I began to fear that my presence was endangering those around me. It became clear: if I stayed, I might not survive. I was no longer just afraid. I was in danger — a real, imminent threat,” he says. With Rainbow Railroad’s help, Dennis was able to escape to Canada.

Carrying the Mission Forward

Safety, however, didn’t mean stepping back. “I did not leave my activism behind; I carried it with me,” he says. In Canada, Dennis continued organizing — advocating for refugees, speaking at public forums, and building alliances across borders.

“Even in safety, the work remains urgent. My heart is still with those back home — those who live every day under the weight of criminalization, social rejection, and violence. I have seen too much, lost too many friends, and held too many broken stories in my hands to stop now.”

That commitment eventually brought him full circle: into a role at Rainbow Railroad itself. “I am a Program Officer for Resettlement, which means talking to and understanding our clients, helping them understand the options we’re exploring for them, and eventually walking them through the actual bureaucracy and paperwork that comes with relocation,” Dennis explains.

Working at Rainbow Railroad feels like a natural extension of his journey. “Apart from being a beneficiary of the work we do, I also worked with the organization to help individuals stay safe, even while I was still in Uganda.”

One moment stands out: speaking at the Freedom Party in 2019. “It helped me realize the extent of the support available, and I wanted to be part of the movement to put that support to good use.”

The Weight and Reward of the Work

Supporting people at their lowest points comes with both profound rewards and real emotional tolls.

“The most rewarding aspect of my role is seeing someone finally land in a place of safety. Seeing that relief in their eyes and hearing that SIGH,” Dennis says with emphasis. But every success comes against a backdrop of immense struggle. “We meet people at their lowest points and listen to their life stories, inserting ourselves into these lives. Doing so every day is so depressing. And you can’t ‘snap’ out of it when you get home.”

On the hardest days, Dennis draws strength from his own journey. “The fact that I was once where the people I am supporting are today — that keeps me grounded and motivates me to push forward.” He also finds inspiration in the community that Rainbow Railroad’s work has created. “It means ‘it is possible.’”

Beyond work, Dennis restores balance through sports, and, despite seeming outgoing, he treasures solitude. “I like being left alone — A LOT,” he admits with a laugh.

Above all, Dennis wants supporters to know that none of this happens without them. “We are simply foot soldiers; we could not do this without support.”

For Dennis, the mission is both personal and collective. “I didn’t choose to be born in a place that hated me. But I decided to rise. I chose to speak. I chose to fight. And I will continue fighting until no LGBTQ+ person has to flee their home, hide their identity, or beg for their humanity to be recognized.”

“My life as an activist is about love — radical, defiant, unapologetic love. It is about justice. It is about healing. It is about refusing to be erased.”

Dennis’ work reminds us that behind every journey to safety is a network of people committed to making it possible. You can be part of that network. Volunteer or donate today to ensure LGBTQI+ people fleeing persecution are never left without support.