“The First Place I’ve Ever Been Able to Call Home”: Julie’s Journey Toward Safety & Belonging

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 Belonging

When 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.