Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railroad
Founded 2006
Type NGO
Canada 827142530RR0001
United States 47-4896980
Legal status Charitable organization
Location
  • Toronto, Ontario
Executive Director
 Kimahli Powell
Website www.rainbowrailroad.ca

Rainbow Railroad is a Canadian charitable organization that helps lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals escape violence and persecution in their home countries. In the past, they have helped individuals from the Caribbean, Africa, and the Middle East relocate to safer countries in Europe and North America.[1] The organization was formed in 2006, with its name and concept inspired by the Underground Railroad.[2] It received charitable status from the Canada Revenue Agency in 2013,[3] and also maintains a 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City to issue tax receipts to American donors.[4]

After the revelations about the anti-gay purges and concentration camps in Chechnya, Rainbow Railroad began to mobilize emergency efforts to help LGBT people get out of the region in collaboration with the Russian LGBT Network.[5][6][7]

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.[8]

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. ↑ Taylor, Jillian (2 December 2016). "Syrian man arrives in Canada thanks to the Rainbow Railroad". CBC. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "American Friends of Rainbow Railroad Inc". Exempt Organizations Select Check. Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Avery, Dan (20 April 2017). "An LGBT "Underground Railroad" Is Working To Evacuate Gay Men From Chechnya". NewNowNext. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Canada Secretly Sneaks LGBT Russians Out Of Chechnya". All Things Considered. NPR. September 8, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Bonham Centre Awards Gala 2018".
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