LGBTQ Homeless Youth Round-Up

In March, the CA Homeless Youth Project published an issue brief on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) homeless youth in California. Today we take a look at what’s being done in other states and on the national level to address this problem.

The US Department of Health and Human Services recently recommended actions to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ communities. They acknowledged the disproportionate numbers of LGBTQ individuals in the homeless youth community and stated that efforts are under way to improve data collection on this population. All agencies working with runaway and homeless youth are now required to be equipped to serve LGBTQ youth, and those serving this population can apply for federal funds to continue and/or expand their efforts. 

To illustrate the urgent need for these services, we turn to the story of a teenager in Connecticut who was kicked out of his home on Easter morning after coming out to his family. He’s an 18-year-old honor student graduating high school this spring and hoping to head to college in the fall. All of that could be in jeopardy as he finds himself without a home or a support system once his family decided to reject him on the basis of his sexual orientation. True Colors, an agency in Hartford serving LGBTQ homeless youth, sends numerous emails out to their contacts throughout the year, in hopes to find these children and teens a safe and loving home. 

These children are all of our children, and while the onus to address this problem should not lie solely on the backs of the LGBTQ community, the lack of attention given to this issue has caused controversy among advocates. A group of individuals met last week in New York to discuss what is being done to highlight this problem and get these youth off the streets. Some argued that the issue of marriage equality should not be the LGBTQ community’s highest priority and that it doesn’t address the most vulnerable segments of this population. Others argue that achieving full equality under the law will help prevent other social problems facing this community and promotes visibility of all LGBTQ issues. For more information, see Advocates for LGBT Homelessness Desperate for Support from LGBT Movement.

Posted May 9, 2011