I am the co-founder and a volunteer with the Rainbow Refugee society, which was begun in the year 2000 specifically to support LGBT refugee claimants, and now asylum seekers, because the basis of their persecution is their sexual orientation, gender identity, and HIV status.
As Dylan has said, and clearly as has been recognized by the federal government, you're aware and I'm aware that members of the LGBT community are in fact vulnerable persons. This is reflected in the fact that in 2011 the federal government initiated a pilot for the sponsorship of folks seeking asylum because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It's a national program. We form constituent groups and work with sponsorship agreement holders. We currently have groups that are working on initiatives in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, and B.C. The constituent groups raise funds for nine months and provide support for 12 months, while IRCC's RAP provides three months' worth of funds and a start-up package. These sponsorships do not affect the quotas of the SAHs, nor are they limited to specific geographic areas.
Since 2011, there are 70 LGBT individuals who are being sponsored, some of whom are couples, several of whom are blended visa office referrals, with Rainbow Refugee project sharing the cost. Approximately $1 million has been raised over the past four years by these constituency groups.
The need to continually renew this project does not work. At any point the project could end. Regularizing this project will enable LGBT folks to continue to sponsor members of a very vulnerable population.