Rainbow Railroad: Relocating LGBTQI+ Refugees to Safety

Justice Matters

On today’s episode of Justice Matters, co-host Diego Garcia Blum speaks with Kimahli Powell, former executive director of Rainbow Railroad, a Toronto-based organization that relocates LGBTQI+ refugees from nations where they are at risk. Powell is a senior leader in the INGO field with expertise in community-building and strategic advocacy with a focus on international development, law and policy, HIV/AIDS, and internally displaced persons. In this episode’s conversation, they discuss: how Rainbow Railroad’s work has evolved over time, lessons learned working with LGBTQI+ refugees about the challenges they face, his experience forming partnerships with both the U.S. and Canadian governments, the gaps that exist in how we address the needs of LGBTQI+ refugees in policy and public awareness, and where he sees opportunities for innovation in the field.