Rainbow Railroad Fundraiser by Happy Jacks RPG

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

Recently, we saw an excerpt from a book being released by a large table-top RPG publisher that was using a modern, real-life tragedy as fodder for campaign material: the systematic abduction, imprisonment and torture of LGBTQIA+ persons (or those suspected of being such) in Chechnya. We at Happy Jacks found the inclusion of a modern human-rights tragedy in a game book to be insensitive. Rather than complaining about it on the internet, we've decided to do what we can to help and we're asking you to join us!

We will be having a 24 hour Tabletop RPG Marathon on November 16th and 17th to help raise funds for The Rainbow Railroad. This organization works to help LGBTQIA+ persons escape areas of dangerous oppression, in Chechnya and around the world.  (Note that these donations are going to the American Friends of the Rainbow Railroad, which is the US branch of the Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian-based charity.)

#rainbowrailroading (because some railroading is good!) 😃 

WHEN ARE WE DOING IT?

Donations will be open for the rest of the year, but the charity marathon starts at 6:30pm Pacific time on November 16th, and ends at 8:00pm Pacific on November 17th. You can watch at happyjacks.org/live (twitch or youtube live options)

• Happy Jacks RPG Podcast: 6:30 -8:00pm PT
• Monster of the Week - GM Adam: 8pm-12am PT
• Shadowrun - GM Tappy: 12am-4am PT
• Masks - GM Jason: 4am-8am PT
• A Town Called Malice - GM Dave of Monkeyfun Studios: 8am-Noon PT
• GURPS - GM Stu: Noon-4pm PT
• Savage Worlds - GM Kurt Potts: 4pm-8pm PT

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Please consider donating to this incredible cause! No amount is too small! Every little bit helps. All the money is being sent directly through givemn.org to the American Friends of the Rainbow Railroad. 

• Top donors during each game during our marathon will get a prize. 
• The top four donors of the fundraiser (running between now and the end of the 2018 calendar year) will be invited to play in an online game GMed by a Happy Jacks RPG host.

Tips:
- Select PayPal at checkout! If you sign up for PayPal Credit, and donate $100 or more, you can opt for 6 months to pay!

- Check with your employer! Many businesses will match donations to charitable organizations!

WHO ARE WE HELPING?

From Rainbow Railroad's website:

"In countries all over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people live in basic fear for their freedom, their safety and their lives. They often have nowhere to turn because their government and police not only tolerate but encourage this brutality."

(video contains still images and brief flashes of violence)

"Rainbow Railroad exists to help these people get out of danger to somewhere safe. In the spirit of and with homage to the Underground Railroad, the mission of Rainbow Railroad is to help LGBTQI people as they seek safe haven from state-enabled violence, murder or persecution. Through funds collected by people like you, we’re able to support, provide information, and help to arrange safe transportation for these LGBTQI people to somewhere in the world where they can live their lives in freedom. "

More about Rainbow Railroad can be found at rainbowrailroad.com and evaluation of their program can be found at https://chimp.net/charities/rainbow-railroad . It's worth noting that 83% of their expenditures goes directly to their programs/cause, rather than administration or fundraising.