Right now there are 120 million forcibly displaced people
worldwide, the highest of any time in history — and LGBTQI+
individuals are uniquely vulnerable due to state-sanctioned
homophobia and transphobia. In over 60 countries around the world,
queer and trans people face persecution and violence, simply
because of who they are, or who they love.
This World Refugee Day and Pride Month, Rainbow Railroad, an
international charity that helps at-risk queer individuals get to
safety, releases a new report detailing the state of global LGBTQI+
persecution. The report draws on data from 15,352 help requests
spanning 100+ countries, representing LGBTQI+ individuals fleeing
violence.
“It’s no secret that we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in
anti-LGBTQI+ hate and legislation around the world, which is
reflected in the 60% increase in requests for help we received last
year compared to 2022,” says Latoya Nugent, Rainbow Railroad’s Head
of Engagement. “The information in our report sheds light on
patterns in human rights violations and protection concerns facing
LGBTQI+ communities worldwide. No other organization or government
captures the breadth and depth of data on LGBTQI+ forced
displacement, perpetuating the invisibility of queer individuals in
humanitarian responses.”
Drivers of DisplacementThe top 10 countries
where requests for help originated from in 2023 were Pakistan,
Afghanistan, the United States, Uganda, Kenya, Türkiye, Nigeria,
Morocco, Russia and Egypt. When individuals reach out to Rainbow
Railroad for support, the organization tracks the specific threats
to safety, health and welfare they face throughout their
journey.
Safety Concerns are direct threats to individuals from their
families, communities, or the state. In 2023, Rainbow Railroad
monitored 38 safety concerns, with community rejection emerging as
the most common issue. Of all reported cases, 78% experienced
rejection from their community, a significant increase from 53% in
2022. Family-based rejection is also a major concern, affecting 46%
of individuals.
Violence poses another serious challenge. Last year, 29% of
cases reported community violence, 28% faced verbal threats or
abuse, and 18% experienced life-threatening violence. Individuals
in Sub-Saharan Africa faced nearly three times the risk of
family-based violence compared to those in other regions. Cisgender
women were over twice as likely to encounter sexual violence
compared to other gender identities.
Health and Welfare Concerns encompass issues related to physical
and mental wellbeing that increase individual risk. In 2023,
Rainbow Railroad tracked 16 such concerns, with the most common
being mental health issues (42%), lack of basic needs (30%), and
suicide risk (16%). Additionally, individuals faced heightened
employment discrimination (15%) and homelessness (12%). Trans men,
in particular, were more than twice as likely to experience
homelessness compared to other gender identities. Trans and
non-binary individuals were 2.5 times more likely to face housing
discrimination than cisgender individuals.
From Persecution to PrideSince its founding in
2006, Rainbow Railroad has assisted nearly 15,000 LGBTQI+
individuals in finding safety through emergency relocation, crisis
response, cash assistance, and various other forms of support. Last
year alone, Rainbow Railroad supported 7,265 individuals, a 63%
increase compared to 2022.
Emmanuel, a refugee from Rwanda who spent 25 years living in
Cameroon without securing government support before reaching out to
Rainbow Railroad, describes the nonlinear road of resettlement
experienced by many refugees and asylum seekers. “When a person
flees their home country, it is often the beginning of a long
journey to finding safety. To leave your country, it almost feels
like dying. You leave everything that was attached to you. I left
people who were so dear and so close to me. It’s like part of you
is dead. At times, it’s very hard to accept it.”
For Emmanuel, after living so many years without documentation
in Cameroon, it is meaningful just to be recognized and supported
as a refugee in Canada. “I have so many hopes and dreams,” he
shares, and although the road ahead of him is uncertain, he feels
that the future is possible now.
Solidarity in PrideWhile Rainbow Railroad’s
impact has been immense, there is more work to do. Reflecting on
this, Nugent states, “Until we are all free to celebrate and affirm
our LGBTQI+ identity, efforts are still needed to help at-risk
LGBTQI+ people move from persecution to Pride.” Nugent further
emphasizes, “We call on governments worldwide to create more
dedicated pathways and programs to help queer and trans people who
are at risk of persecution, and invest in sustained partnerships
with LGBTQI+ civil society to increase protection and safeguarding
efforts of LGBTQI+ persons experiencing forced displacement.
Resettlement is a costly but critical undertaking, and with the
solidarity of governments and our community of supporters, we can
co-create a world where LGBTQI+ people can safely live, work, and
play with dignity and pride.”
The full report, along with personal accounts from at-risk
LGBTQI+ individuals, can be viewed at
www.rainbowrailroad.org/annualreport.
About Rainbow RailroadRainbow Railroad is a
global charitable organization that helps LGBTQI+ people facing
persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and
sex characteristics. Headquartered in New York and Toronto, the
organization has supported nearly 15,000 at-risk LGBTQI+
individuals since its founding in 2006. Rainbow Railroad is a
registered Canadian charity and 501(c)3 organization in the USA.
For more information please visit www.rainbowrailroad.org.
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