Information for LGBTQI+ refugees seeking support in Canada.
If you are an LGBTQI+ person who has fled persecution and is looking for support in Canada, we want you to know: your safety matters, and there are organizations that can help.
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About ROAR
ROAR is a small, volunteer-run organization based in Nanaimo, British Columbia. We work with private sponsorship groups to help LGBTQI+ refugees who have already been identified for resettlement.
Important: We are not able to accept direct applications from asylum seekers or refugees. We do not have the capacity to process individual requests for sponsorship.
Understanding private refugee sponsorship in Canada.
Private refugee sponsorship is a process through which groups of community volunteers commit to supporting a refugee for their first year in Canada
We encourage you to register with Rainbow Refugee who keep a sponsorship waiting list.
Where to find support.
Rainbow Refugee — Inland Program
If you are seeking asylum from within Canada or at a Port of Entry. Offers group-based, peer-informed support for LGBTQIA+ individuals in British Columbia.
Rainbow Refugee — Sponsorship Waiting List
If you are already considered a refugee under international law and are outside your home country. You may be eligible for sponsorship matching.
Rainbow Railroad
International organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people worldwide.
Government of Canada — Refugees and Asylum
Official information about refugee programs, the asylum process, and your rights in Canada.