Activists demanded Tuesday that Jamaica repeal a colonial-era law criminalizing gay sex, noting that the government still has not heeded a regional rights panel’s recommendation two years ago to do so. The post Activists urge Jamaica to nix anti-sodomy laws amid violence appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more

Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps LGBTQ2S+ refugees find a safe home, says they are partnering with the Canadian government in order to resettle approximately 600 Afghans. The post Refugee charity says it’s partnering with feds to resettle 600 LGBTQ2S+ Afghans appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more

In partnership with the Canadian Government, Rainbow Railroad will resettle approximately 600 LGBTQI+ Afghans into Canada. The post Refugee group partners with Ottawa to bring hundreds of LGBTQ Afghans to Canada appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more

Rainbow Railroad seeks further commitment from the Canadian Government to utilize their resources in identifying at-risk Afghans to relocate to safety. The post Rainbow Railroad’s perilous path out for LGBTQ+ Afghans appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more

Rainbow Railroad, along with an LGBTQI+ Afghan, met with Minister Sean Fraser to call upon the Canadian government to bring more to safety. The post ‘I feel safe here finally’: LGBTQ2S+ refugee from Afghanistan resettled in Canada, thousands more still trapped appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more

Scotiabank and Rainbow Railroad, an international LGBTQI+ rights organization based in Toronto and New York, are thrilled to announce a three-year partnership to help provide direct assistance to LGBTQI+ people in need globally. The $495,000 investment will also support Rainbow Railroad as it develops partnerships with like-minded organizations both at home and internationally – including in the countries where Scotiabank operates. Scotiabank’s financial support will be directed towards settlement support and strengthening the ecosystem of partner organizations around the world that defend the ..read more

As of May this year, there are more than 100 million people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide by persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations. Against the backdrop of this global crisis, LGBTQI+ people continue to lack legal equality in many countries around the world. Often, discrimination and state-sponsored persecution are catalysts in an individual becoming displaced. Vulnerable LGBTQI+ refugees need additional targeted and expedited resettlement pathways that take into account their unique vulnerabilities within this system. Canada’s first ever Federal Two-Spirit ..read more

A message from our Executive Director  When there are attacks on LGBTQI+ persons internationally, either through crackdowns or actions of the state, we immediately look to our partners on the ground to see how we can help, as they lead in a response. After talking with our close partners at SMUG, and after signing onto statements with civil society partners, we’d like to release the following statement:  Rainbow Railroad strongly condemns the Government of Uganda’s decision to suspend the activities of national LGBTQI+ umbrella organization Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) last week ..read more

Rainbow Railroad is pleased to announce that it has hired two senior sector leaders to support its continued growth and the advancement of our global mission to help LGBTQI+ individuals escape persecution and violence. Joining the organization as the Head of Impact is Kathryn Hampton (She/Her), and joining the organization as Head of Operations is Becky McFarlane (They/She).  “In my time as Executive Director, Rainbow Railroad has gone through exponential growth that has impacted thousands of lives. We are now at a stage where we need additional leadership to prepare us to help more peopl ..read more

Rainbow Railroad continues to request that the government enter a direct referral partnership to create additional targeted and expedited resettlement pathways for high-risk LGBTQI+ Afghan refugees. The post Charity calls on government to help resettle 300 LGBTQ2S+ Afghans trying to escape to Canada appeared first on Rainbow Railroad ..read more