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Rainbow Railroad Is Saving LGBT Lives in Chechnya — Donating Points Will Help

April 27, 2017
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4 min read
People show pink cards and a picture of Vladimir Putin as
Rainbow Railroad Is Saving LGBT Lives in Chechnya — Donating Points Will Help
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When I first heard the reports of gay concentration camps in Chechnya, I was in denial. Surely this couldn't be happening — not in 2017. Sadly, as report after report came out in media outlets like The New York Times and the Human Rights Watch, it turned out to be a sad and terrifying reality. In Chechnya right now, people are being rounded up, tortured and killed. And to cap it all off, the head of the Chechen republic said he has plans to eliminate all gays by the start of Ramadan. This is happening.

When I read stories like this, it's easy to feel helpless. But about a month ago, before all of this news came out, I was introduced to a group called Rainbow Railroad. I learned about the organization and its goal of saving LGBT people from places where they were subject to death and imprisonment just for being who they are. LGBT people in countries all around the world — from Jamaica to Iran — are sadly still persecuted for being themselves. But Rainbow Railroad is hoping to make a difference by helping them to seek asylum in a safe country.

As an out, gay male who has been given so much and is very aware of how fortunate I am to be living my dream, I can't turn a blind eye. I feel compelled personally and morally to support this cause. When I met with the people of Rainbow Railroad, they said that travel was a huge part of their expenses. As I write this post right now, there are 30 refugees in a safe house in Russia waiting to get out, but they require the means to do so. TD Bank donated six million Aeroplan miles to Rainbow Railroad. But unfortunately, those miles are almost all used, so they need help.

Rainbow Railroad accepts donations online because what they're doing isn't cheap. It costs about 75,000 Aeroplan miles to get someone out of Russia and there are currently 30 LGBT refugees in Chechnya waiting to get out — that's 2,250,000 miles. It's a dire situation.

So, I want to open this up to TPG readers by encouraging you to donate. To get a sense of how important this cause is to me, I'm kicking off the donating with $10,000 of my own money that'll go directly to Rainbow Railroad. And TPG is donating 200,000 of our miles and points. The goal is to get to two million miles, and I would love nothing more than to see the remaining miles raised by TPG readers. You can donate as few as 1,000 Aeroplan miles directly through Rainbow Railroad's website — every bit helps make a difference in achieving our goal.

Remember, American Express Membership Rewards points transfer instantly to Aeroplan miles at a 1:1 ratio. In addition, you could opt to transfer SPG Starpoints to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio — plus, you'll get a 5,000-point bonus for every 20,000 Starpoints you transfer. Of, if donating cash is more your thing, Rainbow Railroad accepts monetary donations, and you can earn points from the donation by using a credit card.

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This is urgent, so I wanted to get this post up and let you know how dire the situation is for your help now. We're going to be doing more with Rainbow Railroad down the line, including teaming up with them at D.C. Pride from June 8-11. Stay tuned for details on that and a Facebook Live to raise awareness about this amazing organization. In the meantime, it would mean the world to me if you would donate your Aeroplan miles or cash to the organization. If you do donate, put "TPG" in the comment section. We're so fortunate to be able to use miles and points to travel for leisure, but this use of miles is a matter of life and death.

Featured image by LightRocket via Getty Images

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
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Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.