Providing safety to and helping to resettle the world’s most vulnerable groups including those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and two-spirit (LGBTQ2) community is part of Canada’s proud history.
Generally, the United Nations Refugee Agency, other federal organizations, and private sponsors, refer resettlement cases for people who are persecuted due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status.
Providing funding support to the Rainbow Refugee Society, is one of the ways we support the LGBTQ2 community. The Rainbow Refugee Society works with sponsorship agreement holders to sponsor LGBTQ2 refugees to come to Canada. For instance, as part of the #WelcomeRefugees initiative LGBTQ2 Syrians were referred and resettled in Canada.
Also, guidelines announced by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) will assist in providing a better insight of the challenges people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) may face when presenting their asylum cases before the IRB.
Canada proactively and openly encourages the sponsorship of refugees facing hostility and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or HIV status.
Follow the Government of Canada’s Twitter account on LGBTQ2 (@freetobeme_ca), and use the hashtag #FreeToBeMe on any posts related to LGBTQ2 issues including gender and sexual diversity.