ADVOCACY.

RAINBOW RAILROAD’S GLOBAL PRESENCE

To provide LGBTQI+ people with pathways to safety and freedom from state-sponsored violence and persecution, Rainbow Railroad engages in direct advocacy with governments, international organizations, and multilateral institutions around the world.

In The News

"Individuals who have reached out to us for assistance and who we've been helping … have faced obstacles all throughout their journey. There's just been real consistent danger."

Kimahli Powell, Rainbow Railroad CEO in CBC News. “Refugee group partners with Ottawa to bring hundreds of LGBTQ Afghans to Canada.” December 2022.

"We just need a firm commitment from the government. If the government is going to identify this community as a vulnerable population they are concerned about, why wouldn't they work with the organizations who have already identified people to help them resettle?"

Kimahli Powell, Rainbow Railroad CEO in The National Observer “Rainbow Railroad’s perilous path out for LGBTQ+ Afghans.” September 2022.

“This (war) will have a massive impact on the rights movement broadly…The far-right movement and Orthodox Church in particular in Ukraine were violent and threatening to the community prior to this crisis, but they will be emboldened for sure.”

Devon Matthews, Rainbow Railroad Head of Programs in USA Today. “Ukraine was the 'queer capital of Eastern Europe.' Russia's war changed everything.” June 2022.

“Things move on out of people's consciousness. And what we're really trying to remind people is the depth of this humanitarian crisis continues at a severity that we're not paying enough attention to and pushing our government enough to support.”

Devon Matthews, Rainbow Railroad Head of Programs in CTV News

“I feel safe here finally': LGBTQ2S+ refugee from Afghanistan resettled in Canada, thousands more still trapped.” September 2022.