Thread by @HRC

Hi, this is @Kimahli Powell. I’m the executive director of @RainbowRailroad, a Canadian-based international organization that helps #LGBTQ individuals facing persecution escape to safety. I’m doing an #HRCTwitterTakeover today to mark #WorldRefugeeDay.

In the spirit of and with homage to the Underground Railroad, the mission of the @RainbowRailroad is to help #LGBTQ people as they seek safe haven from violence, murder or persecution. — @Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover rainbowrailroad.ca

Let’s start with 3 terms:
⚫Migrant: Anyone who chooses to leave their country of origin;
⚫Asylum seeker: Anyone seeking international protection;
⚫Refugee: An official designation for individuals forced to flee their country of origin.
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover

Our work at @RainbowRailroad includes helping these individuals locate safe houses in their home countries, providing funds to individuals in hiding, creating travel arrangements and counselling for people looking to flee their homes. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover

🚨Here’s the international situation: More than 70 countries around the world criminalize consensual same-sex intimacy. In just over half a dozen of those countries, same-sex intimacy is punishable with the death penalty. 🚨
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover

In Sept. 2017, at least 6 men were arrested for “promoting sexual deviancy” after waving a pride flag at a concert in Cairo. These arrests have led to a crackdown on the #LGBTQ community across Egypt. 🇪🇬 —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay
npr.org/2018/06/18/620…

Since then dozens of #LGBTQ people were arrested & held without charge. Members of Egypt’s parliament have proposed legislation to explicitly criminalize same-sex relations and even showing support for the community in any way.
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

In early 2017 the world cried out when reports broke from Chechnya describing abductions, detentions, enforced disappearances, torture and deaths targeting more than 200 men suspected of being gay or bisexual.—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay hrw.org/news/2017/09/0…

Earlier this month, I was honored to join @HRC and a Chechen refugee in DC for meetings with the @WhiteHouse and @StateDept to address the urgent need to open the US border to survivors of these atrocities. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay hrc.org/blog/chechen-r…

The Chechen refugee shared his story of being kidnapped from work, tortured in an abandoned building for weeks and forced to provide names of other gay men. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay
hrc.org/blog/world-ref…

Last year we received more than 1,100 requests looking for help. Of those we resettled more than 200 people. Our work is about assessing the situation and determining where there are individuals at immediate risk who choose to leave. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

#LGBTQ refugees are particularly vulnerable to violence and abuse. Individuals are often referred to us by a local groups on the ground, like @EqualityJa in the Caribbean. Others find us on social media and reach out to us directly.
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

Some countries are more tricky to navigate because we haven’t yet identified routes to safety. Most of the people we assist end up in Western Europe. About 15% of the #LGBTQ folks we work with end up in Canada.—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay
hrw.org/news/2017/09/0…

A large part of what allowed intervention in Chechnya was the worldwide outrage. I want to see that same concern about the many other countries where LGBTQ people face persecution, like Indonesia, Tanzania, Turkey and too many more. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

The work @RainbowRailroad does is like a triage. We can lead people to a place that’s safe, let them know what to do when they land and give them organizations that are safe in the country that they arrive to. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay
salon.com/2017/05/01/fro…

It’s vital that asylum seekers have support networks wherever they are resettled. These individuals are young, bright & full of potential, but they’re still getting used to understanding that they're safe & they can start a new life. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

While Canada has taken an international leadership role, it’s up to each of us to pitch in and keep pushing our governments to do more to help the most vulnerable among us. Canada has more work to do as well.
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay dailyxtra.com/what-can-you-d…

The Trump-Pence administration has cut the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. by half--and admitted even less. It is critical that governments adequately resettle refugees while recognizing the specific needs of #LGBTQ people.
—@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover #WorldRefugeeDay

It's fitting that #WorldRefugeeDay falls during #PrideMonth. #LGBTQ asylum seekers are often forced to flee their home, family & country because of who they are and who they love. @RainbowRailroad is proud to work with @HRC to lift up these stories. —@Kimahli #HRCTwitterTakeover