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Conservative MPs Launch Fundraiser for LGBTQ2S+ Refugees
The MPs aim to raise $20,000 to $25,000 for Rainbow Railroad and support resettlement for persecuted LGBTQ+ people.
Conservative MP Scott Aitchison and deputy leader Melissa Lantsman announced a July 15 fundraising boat cruise for Rainbow Railroad, urging the public to purchase $150 tickets to help resettle persecuted LGBTQ+ people.
Aitchison launched the initiative after a January 2023 Kenya visit inspired by the Stephen Harper government's Muskoka Initiative, noting that in over 60 countries it remains illegal to be gay, trans, or lesbian.
Organizers aim to secure 125 passengers for the two-hour cruise, seeking to raise $20,000 to $25,000 to expand Rainbow Railroad's donor base beyond Canada's major urban centers.
Amid a fraught relationship between the Conservative party and some LGBTQ+ advocates, Aitchison insisted the effort is not partisan, stating, "This is not a partisan issue."
LGBTQ+ rights face global retreats, with Ghana imposing prison terms up to 10 years, though activists note progress elsewhere, including Thailand's recent decision to legalize same-sex marriage.