For LGBTQI+ Refugees and Assylum Seekers!
The “Rainbow Railroad” Is a Great Resource for Helping Immigrants to the USA Fleeing Danger & Persecution
StreetSense editor Thomas Hansen got invited to a virtual “Lunch-n-Learn” (11-14-24) session to learn more about a new partnership called Rainbow Railroad (https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/about#mission). This project is meant to help LGBTQI+ immigrants who are refugees or asylum seekers interested in coming to or remaining in the United States.
Drew Heckman, Rainbow Railroad's Engagement Officer, gave a presentation on both the project and how people can participate and help. This is an exciting and timely project, serving people from countries all over the world, from Africa to South America and more.
As many people know, persons who are from the LGBTQI+ communities can suffer a wide range of threats, from harassment and blackmail, to beatings and even murder. Some individuals can lose their jobs, be outed by persons who dislike them and who do not approve of them, or who wish arrest or even death for them. Some countries not only have laws forbidding gay speech and lifestyles but also calling for death of the individuals suspected of being a member of the LGBTQI+ communities.
Different from other refugees and asylum seekers, these individuals may also be suffering at the hands of their own families. Family members and neighbors may be responsible for outing these individuals, threatening them, getting them fired from their jobs, and stopping them from getting the legal and medical services they need.
Rainbow Railroad connects to Welcome Corps (https://welcomecorps.org/about/), a new US government initiative that allows everyday Americans to welcome refugees. Rainbow Railroad works specifically to build queer and queer-affirming Communities of Care to support arriving LGBTQI+ refugees.
StreetSense is interested because of its role in helping provide news and resources to those who work with migrants and other homeless persons already in the city. Persons in other countries interested in coming to the US are also eligible to participate. As most people know, the percentage of homeless persons who are members of LGBTQI+ communities is very high—especially among younger persons with no home.
Participants in, or coming to the United States, need support with housing, transportation, healthcare, vaccinations, and more. StreetSense is happy to publicize these kinds of resources for persons who have suffered persecution, harassment, physical and sexual abuse, and other forms of bullying and threats in their countries.
Getting the resources and information to the refugees and asylum seekers is facilitated by the Rainbow Railroad project (https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/stories/issues). To make all this happen, five members on each team, called a Community of Care, come together to offer advice, assistance, moral support, transportation, and other forms of care for the participants.
These Communities of Care will consist of one leader and four additional members who have been approved to serve in these roles. There is an application process to go through regarding background, any languages spoken, and other factors for the potential Community of Care members.
Joey McDonald, Manager of Events and Volunteers at the Center on Halsted will serve as an intermediary between and among groups to facilitate individuals applying to be approved for teams and will connect on a regular basis with the staff at Rainbow Railroad.
Here is Mr. McDonald’s contact information: Joey McDonald, Manager of Events and Volunteers, Pronouns: He/They, Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60613-5974, phone 773.472.6469 Ext. 454, fax 773.661.0768 email: jmcdonald@centeronhalsted.org
This is an international initiative, with the US Welcome Corps involved in helping persons from LGBTQI+ communities in many countries. This article has focused on the Chicago connection. For information on Rainbow Railroad projects and teams in other locations, please contact them at: Rainbow Railroad USA, 575 5th Avenue, Unit 15-135, New York, NY, 10017, email: info@rainbowrailroad.org,
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You can also make a donation to Rainbow Railroad if you do not wish to participate as a team member (https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/take-action#donate).
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Media inquiries can be directed to: media@rainbowrailroad.org