News and Press

In August, Rainbow Railroad led a delegation for the 2026 We Are All America Advocacy Days. We Are All America is one of the United States’ largest grassroots networks, drawing together immigrant rights and refugee resettlement movements to advance human rights. During their summer Advocacy Days, they support people with lived experience, refugee leaders, allies, and advocates to raise awareness among state, Senate, and Congressional leaders about the challenges refugees are facing in the United States. For this year’s Advocacy Days, Rainbow Railroad, represented by US Policy and Advocacy Officer, Oliver Williams, led a delegation of five constituents from the state of Washington. This small group of advocates and people with lived experience met with two senators and three members of Congress. In their conversations with elected representatives, they championed restoring and strengthening the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), in particular for LGBTQI+ people who are seeking pathways to safety. Rainbow Railroad shared key data from our 2025 Annual Report directly with congressmembers, including that the 20,215 requests for help we received in 2025 represent a 51% increase from the year before. Of these requests, 60% came from transgender people. And globally, more than half of the individuals we supported told us they faced life-threatening violence. Lastly, 2025 marked the second consecutive year that the United States was the largest single source of requests for help. We received 427 requests for help from non-US citizens living in the US, an exponential increase from 38 in 2023 and 94 in 2024. All this points to the challenges LGBTQI+ people face internationally, but also within the country, as they seek safety from persecution. At the end of this summer’s Advocacy Days, the coalition was able to secure a Senate oversight letter to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE that covered the key issues raised in our meetings. More than 300 participants and 59 organizations participated, though Rainbow Railroad was just one of a handful of LGBTQI+ nonprofits present. This year’s participants represented 43 states. Rainbow Railroad participated in some of more than 140 meetings with Members of Congress. Crucially, 154 refugees and immigrants shared their lived experience directly with lawmakers. You can read the final report from Advocacy Days here. We will continue to advocate for pathways to safety for LGBTQI+ people, and policy change within the United States to ensure that those who are here feel safe at home. 

This Pride season, our corporate partners have turned visibility into meaningful action for LGBTQI+ people at risk globally.Throughout June and July, Pride campaigns across Canada and the U.S. raised critical funds, increased awareness of Rainbow Railroad’s work, and engaged employees and customers in our mission, with several campaigns continuing through the end of summer.Together, these efforts have raised over $1 million, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make them possible.A special thank you to:LCBOFor the 5th year in a row, Rainbow Railroad once again joined LCBO’s annual Love Pairs With Everything Pride campaign. Customers across Ontario were invited to donate at checkout throughout June in support of five LGBTQI+ organizations.The Beer Store For the sixth consecutive year, The Beer Store returned as a Pride partner. From June 8 to July 15, customers across Ontario could donate at checkout or contribute their empty-container returns, with proceeds supporting Rainbow Railroad’s programs and mission.Bank of Montreal (BMO)Celebrating five years of partnership, BMO’s Rainbow Deposits campaign is once again turning rainbows into real impact. For every rainbow photo uploaded, BMO donates $1 to Rainbow Railroad. Better yet, the campaign is still running through August 31.IKEA US & CanadaFor the third year in a row, IKEA Canada and IKEA U.S. celebrated Pride in support of Rainbow Railroad through their beloved Rainbow Cake campaign, with proceeds from sales throughout June and July supporting our work.Digital ExtremesRainbow Railroad partnered with Digital Extremes for the 5th year in a row. They celebrated Warframe Pride 2026 with Pride-themed in-game activations and a special Kaithe Plush campaign, with 100% of Digital Extremes’ net proceeds supporting our work.TelusTELUS team members and customers rallied behind Rainbow Railroad this Pride, through TELUS corporate stores in June to help LGBTQI+ people around the world find safety.A number of our partners continue to have campaigns and activations running throughout the rest of Pride season.Keep an eye out for campaigns featuring Rainbow Railroad as a charitable beneficiary and, when you can, show these incredible partners some love. Their continued commitment helps make our work possible, during Pride and throughout the year.

Rainbow Railroad is proud to announce the launch of its new Client Portal. With this tool we are improving the way we communicate with the people we support.This new Client Portal reflects our commitment to the dignity, safety, and agency of every LGBTQI+ person. The Portal is designed to be accessible and easy to navigate in five languages – English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. It gives clients direct access to their case status and information, makes it easier to communicate with our team, and adapts to individual circumstances, providing tailored information and resources. Now people will be able to see their cases managed in real time. This transparency will be critical to the people we serve and can reduce fear and uncertainty in times of crisis.This is more than just a technology upgrade. We know that LGBTQI+ people fleeing persecution face overwhelming uncertainty – waiting to hear about their case, not knowing what comes next, and being afraid of getting lost in systems beyond their control. The people we support are taking control of their own lives, and they deserve transparency and ownership over their cases. We have built this tool with strong security protections to safeguard sensitive personal information. Access to information is power, and Rainbow Railroad’s Client Portal is one more way we are working to put that power in the hands of the people we serve. Special thanks to the WES Mariam Assefa Fund for your generous support in making the Client Portal possible and recognizing the value and importance of this work.

Indulge in some retail therapy and support Rainbow Railroad’s vital work

In just 60 seconds, an LGBTQI+ person can be forced to flee their home.

While we wish we could help everyone who reaches out to us, our capacity is limited by our resources and the legal complexities and constraints of international refugee law and travel.

As the confirmation of Trump’s re-election settles, we face a pivotal moment in our mission to support and protect at-risk LGBTQI+ refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers. This crucial time reinforces the urgent need to mobilize and stand united for equality and justice. What we are certain of is that this moment clarifies our path forward: we must rally together with unwavering resolve to meet the anticipated challenges for our community if this new administration implements many of the anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQI+ policies it has proposed. Our community has proven its strength and resilience. Despite the changing landscape and rising threats to the rights of LGBTQI+ refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers, we have made significant strides in defending and advancing our mission. Together, we’ve fought back against discriminatory laws and policies, securing vital victories, and raised awareness about the realities faced by forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people. As a community, we’ve supported those seeking safety, dignity and freedom — helping countless LGBTQI+ people find safety in safe cities in the U.S. The power of queer organizing and community action has always been our greatest strength, and together, we’ve shown what is possible when we stand united.We are working behind the scenes to ensure we do more to support LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers and asylees in the U.S., and will share more with our community as we have updates. If you have questions about what the election results could mean for your immigration status, please reach out to us at community@rainbowrailroad.org. With so much at risk, now more than ever, we need your support. Together, we can power change. Help us fuel the fight by donating to ensure that the hundreds of LGBTQI+ refugees, asylum seekers, and asylees who are depending on us will not be left behind.To our entire community: we acknowledge your fears, your grief, your anger, and all of the other emotions you may be feeling. We cannot do this without you. We are now in crisis mode and we urgently need your support to continue our vital work. We will move forward. Nothing will stop us. As James Baldwin said: “There is never a time in the future in which we will work out our salvation. The challenge is in the moment; the time is always now.”Let’s get to work.

For every $100 you raise by 11:59pm on November 15th, 2024, you’ll earn an entry to win a pair of tickets to Taylor Swift’s SOLD-OUT Eras Tour stop in Toronto on November 22nd!

In a powerful show of solidarity and support, Rainbow Railroad took part in the official launch of the Latin American Network on Forced Displacement in Mexico City from May 15 to 17. This pivotal event brought together queer organizations from across Latin America, united in their mission to address the urgent challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals forced to flee their homes through various migration routes in Latin America.The network's creation stems from a dire need to provide targeted support and advocacy for LGBTQI+ people on the move. With many countries in the region posing significant risks to queer individuals, the network fills a crucial gap. It's a unique, collective effort focused on addressing LGBTQI+ human mobility.Held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the launch saw participation from several embassies, including the American and Canadian Embassies, along with Mexican officials and the United Nations Refugee Agency. The event's timing, coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia on May 17, underscored the global commitment to combating LGBTQI+ discrimination.Rainbow Railroad's role was significant. As a sub-granting organization of the ACTIF (Act Together for Inclusion Fund), the project that helped establish the network, we were not only witnesses but active participants, signing the declaration as allies of the network. This involvement highlights our dedication to supporting international initiatives that protect LGBTQI+ rights.The network comprises a remarkable coalition of organizations working tirelessly to support LGBTQI+ individuals across Latin America. These include Casa Frida from Mexico, Derechos Humanos y Diversidad AC from Argentina, Corporación Red Somos from Colombia, Asociación Lambda from Guatemala, and many others from countries including Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Peru, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Honduras.Danilo Manzano, the Executive Director of Diálogo Diverso and the current secretariat of the network, shares valuable insights on the network’s inception and its vital role: “The network was established to fill a critical gap, ensuring coordinated support for LGBTQI+ individuals in forced displacement. Its unique focus and collective governance make it stand out.” Danilo also highlights the importance of strengthening the network's capacity and international advocacy efforts.Looking forward, the network aims to secure funding for people living with HIV within its portfolio and enhance its internal structures for better international advocacy. Rainbow Railroad remains committed to collaborating with the network, identifying global opportunities for advocacy, and addressing the broader issues of forced displacement.Our participation in the Latin American Network on Forced Displacement launch is a testament to our ongoing commitment to global LGBTQI+ rights. By supporting initiatives like this, we continue to advocate for the safety and dignity of LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide, ensuring that those forced to flee their homes receive the support and protection they need.