Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railroad is a Canadian charitable organization that helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries. In the past, they have helped individuals from the Caribbean, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa through emergency travel support and other forms of assistance.^[1] The organization was formed in 2006, with its name and concept inspired by the Underground Railroad that was used by African-American slaves to escape into free states.^[2] Since 2006, Rainbow Railroad has helped over 3100 LGBTQ+ people from around the world find safety.^[3] It received charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency in 2013,^[4] and received 501(c)(3) charity organization status in 2015. The organization is based in Toronto and New York City.^{[5] [6]}

Rainbow Railroad

Founded	2006
Type	NGO
Tax ID no.	827142530RR0001 47-4896980
Legal status	Charitable organization
Location	Toronto, Ontario and New York City, NY
Executive Director	Kimahli Powell
Website	www.rainbowrailroad.org

After the revelations about the anti-gay purges and concentration camps in Chechnya (and on a smaller scale in neighboring Ingushetia and Dagestan), Rainbow Railroad began to mobilize emergency efforts to help LGBT people get out of the region in collaboration with the Russian LGBT Network.^[7][8][9]

After the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021, Rainbow Railroad raised concerns about the situation for LGBTQ people living under the Taliban. ^[10] Between August 2021 and June 2022, Rainbow Railroad helped to resettle 247 LGBTQ+ Afghans in Canada, the U.K., and Ireland.^[11]

Rainbow Railroad's main goal is to help those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. Their mission is to save those who cannot be themselves openly in their country and bring them to a new country where they can be who they truly are. Rainbow Railroad believes that governments around the globe should enact and enforce laws and policies that protect LGBTQ+ individuals and enable them to live in freedom and safety in their own country. However, until that day arrives, the organization is focused on providing solutions for LGBTQ+ people who need immediate assistance because they are facing a serious threat to their lives and safety.^[12]

Recognition

Rainbow Railroad received the 2018 Bonham Centre Award from the Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at the University of Toronto for its work helping LGBT refugees.^[13]

In 2019, Time magazine published a feature on Rainbow Railroad's work supporting those impacted by the anti-gay purge in Chechnya. Approximately 70 Chechen men were resettled by Rainbow Railroad during this time period.^[14]

In 2020, their work was highlighted in an episode of Canada's Drag Race. During the eighth episode of the season which aired on August 20, five gay men who had moved to Canada through the organization were given drag makeovers as the main challenge for the week.^[15] The winner of this challenge, Priyanka, won a $10,000 donation to Rainbow Railroad in her name.^[15]

In 2021, Rainbow Railroad were recognised with the GAY TIMES Honour for International Community Trailblazer at the fifth annual GAY TIMES Honours celebration in London. Rainbow Railroad Executive Director Kimahli Powell accepted the award, which was presented by LGBTQ+ and human rights activist Blair Imani.^[16]

References

1. "Project Page". Rainbow Railroad. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
2. Manglone, Kendra (18 June 2015). "'Rainbow Railroad': Toronto charity helping LGBT people escape violence". Toronto: CTV. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
3. "Who We Help". www.rainbowrailroad.org. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
4. Taylor, Jillian (2 December 2016). "Syrian man arrives in Canada thanks to the Rainbow Railroad". CBC. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
5. "American Friends of Rainbow Railroad Inc". Exempt Organizations Select Check. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
6. "About". www.rainbowrailroad.org. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
7. Lamont, Will (18 April 2017). "Rainbow Railroad Announces Emergency Response Plan for LGBTQ People at Risk in Chechnya - urgently requests Canadian Government assistance". CNW Group Ltd. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
8. Avery, Dan (20 April 2017). "An LGBT "Underground Railroad" Is Working To Evacuate Gay Men From Chechnya". NewNowNext. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
9. "Canada Secretly Sneaks LGBT Russians Out Of Chechnya". All Things Considered. NPR. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
10. "Rainbow Railroad - Statement on the Situation of LGBTQI People in Afghanistan". www.rainbowrailroad.org. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
11. "How Canada is failing LGBTQ+ Afghan refugees". Xtra Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. "Rainbow Railroad - Home". www.rainbowrailroad.org. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
13. . Archived from the original on 1 April 2018.
14. Steinmetz, Katy (26 July 2019). "Victim of Chechnya's Anti-Gay Purge Speaks Out: 'The Truth Exists'". Time. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
15. Daniel Reynolds, "Canada's Drag Race Makes Over LGBTQ+ Refugees in Unforgettable Episode". The Advocate, August 21, 2020.
16. "Rainbow Railroad wins International Community Trailblazer at GAY TIMES Honours 2021". GAY TIMES. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links

• Official website
• Video segment & Transcript of report on 60 Minutes (CBS news magazine)
• Video segment on Who They Help: Ray