Celebrating 5 Years for EMCN’s Rainbow Refuge Program

Author: Sara Buczynski, EMCN

In 2022, the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers’ (EMCN) Rainbow Refuge program marks a milestone anniversary – five years of offering LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees an essential life-saving program as our clients often face danger, imprisonment or possible death in their countries of origin.1

In Canada, we have many rights and legal protection to help us thrive in the LGBTQ+ community, and work continues to improve those freedoms. Around the world however, living your life fully can mean the death penalty. For those who have the courage and ability to emigrate, they are faced with navigating complicated settlement systems, isolation due to language barriers, lack of culturally-relevant activities and supports within LGBTQ+ community and/or newcomer services, and arrive alone or without family support. Many are not connected or are hesitant to “come out” within their ethnocultural communities, especially if they experienced discrimination back home. LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers face unique settlement challenges, are often dealing with trauma, and need connection and safe support throughout their settlement journey or asylum process.

Hope exists though, and through the support of our broader mainstream community, Edmonton has become internationally known as a welcoming city for LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees.

What started as a LGBTQ+ community group of volunteers in Edmonton supporting newcomers and refugees then grew into the formalized EMCN Rainbow Refuge program with funding in 2017. That same year, a small group of LGBTQ+ newcomers and refugees marched in the Edmonton Pride Parade. For many, it was their first Pride ever filled with nervousness and excitement. As they marched, attendees shouted encouragement, shared hugs, and even jumped in to join them in the march.

EMCN’s Rainbow Refuge program, which was the first LGBTQ+ program in Edmonton’s settlement sector, offers culturally relevant, affirming supports in four key areas: (1) immigration (2) settlement, employment, and mental health (3) community connection and (4) education and advocacy. Before EMCN’s Rainbow Refuge program, only 50 to 60 percent of LGBTQ+ refugee claims were accepted. Now, about 97 percent of LGBTQ+ refugee claims in Edmonton are accepted.

EMCN’s Rainbow Refuge program continues to educate, advocate and serve the LGBTQ+ community.

Sources:

●              1 – ILGA World - Maps - Sexual orientation laws | ILGA – Dec. 2020
Every year, along with the State-Sponsored Homophobia report, ILGA World also publishes maps of sexual orientation laws in the world.