Every year on June 20, the world comes together to honour the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of people forced to flee their homes due to war, persecution, and violence. At Moyo Health & Community Services, we take this opportunity to uplift the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees, whose experiences are often marked by multiple layers of marginalization and trauma — yet who show remarkable resilience and courage in seeking safety and freedom.
The Reality for 2SLGBTQIA+ Refugees
Around the world, 2SLGBTQIA+ people face heightened threats of persecution due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. In over 60 countries, same-sex relationships remain criminalized, and in some, simply being queer can lead to imprisonment or death. For trans and gender-diverse individuals, access to basic rights like healthcare, employment, and legal recognition can be nearly impossible.
For many, the only path to survival is to flee — often alone and without support. But the journey to safety is not always safe. 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees face continued risks in refugee camps, detention centres, and even in host countries where systemic discrimination persists. Too often, their unique needs go unmet in systems that are not built to recognize or affirm their identities.
The Canadian Context
Canada has long positioned itself as a leader in refugee resettlement and was one of the first countries to create specific pathways for LGBTQIA+ refugees through partnerships with organizations like Rainbow Railroad and Rainbow Refugee. However, even here, queer and trans refugees face significant barriers: language access, housing insecurity, racism, transphobia, homophobia, isolation, and mental health challenges, to name a few.
As a community-based organization located in Peel Region, Moyo HCS recognizes the importance of culturally safe, trauma-informed, and identity-affirming care — especially for newcomers and refugees in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
How Moyo HCS Supports 2SLGBTQIA+ Refugees
While we are not a refugee resettlement agency, Moyo Health & Community Services offers programs and supports that can serve as lifelines for 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers and refugees rebuilding their lives in Canada:
2SLGBTQIA+ Community Programming
• Peer Support Groups: A safe and welcoming space to build community, share stories, and find mutual support.
• Workshops & Events: Focused on identity, mental health, harm reduction, sexual health, and navigating systems.
Mental Health & Wellness Support
• Free counselling with trauma-informed, culturally competent staff who understand the lived experiences of queer and trans individuals.
• Support for those dealing with trauma, anxiety, isolation, and identity-based stress.
• Referrals to gender-affirming healthcare and crisis services.
Sexual Health & Harm Reduction Services
• Inclusive and non-judgmental sexual health clinics, including HIV/STI testing, PrEP access, and gender-affirming care referrals.
• Harm reduction supplies and education that are sensitive to the realities of racialized and queer substance users.
Our Commitment
At Moyo HCS, we believe that safety is a human right, and love is not a crime. On this World Refugee Day, we recommit to building a community where 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees are not just welcomed — they are celebrated, affirmed, and empowered.
We also recognize that liberation for 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees is tied to broader movements for racial, gender, and economic justice. Solidarity means fighting for housing justice, healthcare for all, and dismantling the systems that criminalize migration and queerness.
Let’s honour the journeys of 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees today — and every day — by building communities of care, justice, and love.
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