Rainbow Railroad: LGBTQI+ People Seek Asylum in a World Fueled by Hatred

The world is facing the greatest forced displacement crisis in history. Anti-LGBTQI+ and anti-migrant policies are on the rise around the world, and the Trump administration has made queer people and migrants a target in the United States. And yet, while there are LGBTQI+ people who will still need to seek refuge in the United States, LGBTQI+ migrants are already part of our communities. This event explores the experiences of those who seek asylum based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.

Since 2006, Rainbow Railroad, a global non-for-profit, has helped more than 13,000 LGBTQI+ individuals find safety through emergency relocation, crisis response, cash assistance, and other forms of assistance. Join us to hear the voices of those who have sought asylum and those who have guided them on the Rainbow Railroad.

Speakers include Kendra Frith, senior engagement officer at Rainbow Railroad, where she leads national and international initiatives to establish Communities of Care and Community Support Teams for LGBTQI+ refugees and asylum seekers; Samuel Wairiuko, a human rights activist and economics student based in New York; and Richard Wilson, a final-year Bachelor of Social Work student at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean.