Rainbow Railroad is an international organization dedicated to helping LGBTQIA+ individuals escape life-threatening situations. If you are in immediate danger and considering fleeing your home country due to violence, state persecution, or threats from your family or community, Rainbow Railroad may be able to help you find a pathway to safety.
What They May Offer:
- • Financial assistance for emergency travel and safe relocation
- • Coordination with local and international agencies for crisis response
- • Referrals to safe countries or refugee programs
- • Advocacy and case management support in severe, high-risk cases
Please note: Rainbow Railroad receives thousands of requests per year and prioritizes the most urgent cases. Support is not guaranteed, and eligibility is based on the level of risk, available documentation, and global capacity.
Real-Life Examples:
- • A gay man in Uganda facing threats from both police and his community may be assisted in relocating to a safer country.
- • A trans woman in Chechnya targeted by state violence might be helped to flee to a more protective legal environment.
- A lesbian in Iraq facing honor-based violence from her family could be supported in creating an escape plan.
You can learn more or request help directly on Rainbow Railroad’s request help page: https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/request-help
Step 1: Before You Leave
- • Research which countries are safer for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers
- Examples: Canada, Germany, Argentina
- • Gather and save documentation:
- - Threatening messages, police reports, medical records
- Photos, written testimonies, or letters from trusted people - • Make a safety plan:
- - Know where you’ll go, who you’ll contact, and how to protect yourself
- - Secure your important documents digitally (e.g., on Google Drive or Signal)
Step 2: Once You’ve Left
Once outside your country of origin, you may be able to:
- • Register with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees)
- • Apply for asylum in the country you’ve arrived in
- • Contact local organizations that support LGBTQIA+ refugees
- • Be considered for rare, selective third-country resettlement programs (e.g., Canada’s RRAP or the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program)
Resettlement is extremely limited and not guaranteed. Most refugees are not resettled and spend years in precarious situations.
