LGBTQI+ refugees

Canada has a proud history of providing protection to and helping to resettle the world’s most vulnerable groups. That includes those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and additional sexually and gender diverse (LGBTQI+) community.

Resettlement cases for those who are persecuted because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression are generally referred to us by:

• the United Nations Refugee Agency
• other referral organizations
• private sponsors

One of the ways we support the LGBTQI+ community is through our Rainbow Refugee Assistance Partnership with the Rainbow Refugee Society. The Society works with sponsorship agreement holders to sponsor LGBTQI+ refugees to come to Canada. For example, LGBTQI+ Syrians were among those who were referred and resettled in Canada as part of the #WelcomeRefugees initiative.

As well, guidelines announced by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) will help to provide a better understanding of the challenges people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) may face in presenting their asylum cases before the IRB.

We publicly and proactively encourage the sponsorship of refugees who face violence and persecution, including due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Follow @freetobeme_ca, the Government of Canada’s Twitter account on LGBTQI+ and use the hashtag #FreeToBeMe on any posts related to gender and sexual diversity, and other LGBTQI+ issues.