818: Go Off, Steam with Rainbow Railroad

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Welcome back to Lez Hang Out, the podcast that’s, “leaving on a midnight train”.

This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with Devon Matthews, the Head of Programs for Rainbow Railroad (@rainbowrailroad), a global nonprofit that helps LGBTQ+ people get to safety worldwide.

We talk with Devon about how Rainbow Railroad got started (spoiler alert: it took a LOT of gay audacity), what types of requests for help they receive, and how they organize with other nonprofit organizations and even government leaders to make the seemingly impossible, possible. We also discuss the challenges for Devon and the rest of the Rainbow Railroad’s staff of tireless advocates in providing trauma-informed care as people who mostly come from trauma-backgrounds themselves. 

Content warning for discussions of trauma related to queer and trans identity, situations involving domestic and state-sponsored violence, and the distressing realities of forced displacement.

Through the support of partner organizations on the ground in countries all across the globe, Rainbow Railroad has the extraordinary task of connecting queer and trans people who are in great need with critical resources and a pathway to safety. When a request for help comes in, the case managers work to meet individuals where they are and devise a plan specific to their unique circumstances. The realities of assisting a queer youth who is trying  to escape from domestic violence at home in a country where being gay is all-out illegal to assisting a trans adult in Europe get to safety are vastly different and require different approaches. Devon explains that the more visible the organization becomes, the more requests from LGBTQ+ people in serious crises come in– a sad fact of Rainbow Railroad’s growth is that it is needed at all (and at an almost unimaginable scale!). 

With over 120 million displaced people worldwide, there is an immense need for Rainbow Railroad and their partner organizations. But they can’t do it alone. The time is always now. There have never been a larger amount of requests for help from Rainbow Railroad than after the recent election results right here in the United States.

If you are feeling fired up and ready to join the fight, consider donating to Rainbow Railroad, signing up to volunteer, or reaching out via email with ways that your access can help. There is always something we can do as individuals to fight for queer liberation– Whether you have a rich aunt ready to donate on your behalf, a property (or literally just a bedroom)  you’d like to offer up as a “safe-house”, or are really good at community-building on the ground– YOU can make a difference. 

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Find your fav tol and smol hosts Ellie & Leigh at @elliebrigida and @lshfoster.

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