This was so great to listen to and made me realize that as a person who works in the 2SLGBTQI+ support sector, I need to learn more about the queer refugee experience. This has started my journey in learning more. Thanks so much for this brilliant chat.
extremely important video! and yes, in the US there are many anxieties rising about what a dictatorship under Trump could look like and how very likely many of the queer community would have to flee this country we have lived in all our lives. it is tragic and i hope that the Rainbow Railroad and organizations like it can get more support, especially in difficult and dangerous times
I wonder how Rainbow Railroad gets their message out effectively in countries where ppl are more isolated. I interviewed a trans person in Papua New Guinea, and they told me they did not feel safe. They had been stalked, assaulted and the authorities did not do anything to protect them and arrest the assailants because the authorities blamed them for what happened. This person eventually connected with Save the Children but now watching this I am wondering if had they had known about this option they might have opted to leave PNG. Maybe if RR connected with organizations like Save the Children and had LGBT+ ambassadors to get this option out, then ppl like the trans person I spoke with may have felt less trapped and hopeless.
Thank you for sharing. That’s really sad and unfortunately a story that RR hears all too much. I would encourage checking out their website for more information about their organization and how they spread their message and help folks around the world 💕
Unfortunately the biggest hurdle of coming over anywhere as a refugee is the fact that de facto you can only do so by arriving to the desired country first. The only exception in case of Canada is if you have been personally sponsored, by either the government or a referral organization, but that carries it's own host of difficulties to overcome. In other words to even be considered for an asylum seeker status you have to legally acquire the means to arrive to your desired destination first. That involves: having enough money to pay for the relocation itself (flight tickets, rent, visa fees etc.), having enough grounds to prove to the government of your destination country that you do not intend not to return home (yes, that's correct, in order to get a visa you have to prove that you have a solid reason to come back home), having enough proof that you are actually persecuted for your sexuality (in many cases, homophobic countries do not have direct laws against LGBTQ+ people, which makes it difficult to prove that you are being persecuted by your government). So, essentially, you have to have a full, functioning life in your home country first, in order to even have the ability to leave. Meaning you have to pile up even more trauma in your life by having a fake heterosexual marriage (or even children), having to potentially face life threatening situations at work/school, having family members who genuinely depend on you being with them, and so on and so forth. Sadly, RR specifically states that they can't overcome the aforementioned struggles for you, they can't help you with your visa application or anything of the sort. And even if they wanted to, even as it is the organization is not big enough to handle the sheer amount of requests they get (you can check out the numbers on their website and then come back a few months later). That means that for a lot of us, there's just no way out. We can't get visas, because we obviously have no solid reason to return, and there's not a single country in the world that offers humanitarian visas for LGBTQ+ people. At times, it feels like we might as well not exist, because the harsh truth is that no country in the world wants refugees. I don't think I will ever be able to be free and live my life, but my hope is that many more organizations like RR, in collaboration with the governments, continue to grow and expand their ability to reach, rescue and provide assistance to LGBTQ+ people. We need significantly more help and attention than a single organization, with no governmental powers, can provide.
Thank you for sharing so vulnerably 💕 it breaks our heart that this is the reality so many people in the world face and it’s why we need to educate and spread the word about this issue because so many people’s lives depend on it. We wish you safety and as much happiness as you are able to find 💕💕
I had a Nigerian immigrant (here @ Eatonton) literally tell me that he was going to marry me & fix after not only unfortunately overhearing me & this bi girl’s conversations about our queer lives, BUT HER TRYING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH HIM FOR ME!! 😰😥😨 This was the first I’ve ever shared my queer experience to ANYONE! And that was said to me as he was trying play it down as a joke, that was the first I’ve ever felt not only scared of my own life, but I could never trust a queer person to keep me from harm either… I’ve had my fair share of activism at times…. I don’t think I’ll have enough to be a refugee… I’m already given up on the people of the US though….. I’m not where to go or what to do…. Im so sorry that that lady had to go through such trauma, but I’m happy that’s she safe & living her true life.❤ Maybe one I can do the same…. Until then… I’ll have to be safe… very safe….
is there help for lgbtqia+ families living in red states that wish to flee to a state with more lgbtqia protections? (For example from Iowa to Minnesota etc)
@@QueerCollective thank you so much, I'll look further into reaching out to them. I was worried that there would be no help for my specific situation. I'm a queer, trans, disabled parent of 3 and I want my kids out of the homophobic, transphobic environment that my area is becoming. I live in the capital city of Iowa.
@@RagingUkeKazuSorry to hear about what your senator is doing to Iowa, it's very sad. Minnesota would love to have you and there is also less white supremacy here than in Des Moines from what I have heard, despite our history of racist police. Wishing you and your family the best
Wow thank you for this conversation. Really made me realize I need to learn more about the queer refugee process and how we can best support those who are going through the resettlement path🫂
