Out and Alone: The Epidemic of Homeless LGBT Youth

[theHandpuppet]

This is a raw subject that needs to be revisited on a regular basis. I wonder how many people in America are aware of just how many homeless youth are on the streets because they have been rejected and tossed out of their homes for being LGBT?

I've compiled a few links to articles and videos which I hope you will share with others and of course, please add other links you may have. Those who can might consider making a contribution to a shelter for homeless GLBT youth.

These kids have no voice and we need to keep speaking up for them. Thanks!

http://homelessness.change.org/blog/view/who_is_advocating_for_homeless_lgbt_youth
It's impossible to talk about youth homelessness without addressing one group that is disproportionately represented on the streets of America - young people who identify as LGBTQ. The combination of poverty and homophobia has proven lethal, and literally left thousands of youth doing whatever it takes to survive on the streets. These startling figures leave us asking one question: do homeless service providers and gay rights activists need to step up to the plate to advocate for this forgotten population?

This year, between 574,000 and 1.6 million youth will experience homelessness (read why that number is tough to pinpoint here), according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Of these homeless youth, 20 to 40 percent identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, according to a 2007 study titled, "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness" by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF).

Given the estimates that 2-3 percent of the American public identifies as LGBT, it's troubling that this population is so disproportionately represented on streets - and at such a young age. After coming out to their families, many are running away, being kicked out of their homes, or - even worse - being assaulted by a member of their family, according to the NGLTF report. And that's just the beginning. Life on the streets is hard and cruel, particularly for LGBT youth. "I don't think there is any other situation where so much oppression and persecution and cruelty is happening to people because they're gay," Carl Siciliano, who runs a shelter for LGBT youth in New York City, told the Indypendent. "These kids are bearing the brunt of homophobia in our society.

Indeed, the national numbers from the NGLTF report paint a sad picture of the hard circumstances faced by homeless LGBT youth....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/us/17homeless.html
Many experts estimate that while gay men and lesbians make up 3 percent to 5 percent of the general population, more than 20 percent of homeless youths under age 21 in many urban areas are gay, according to recent surveys of street youths and shelter workers published in peer-reviewed academic journals, and a study released in January by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless....

Please watch this slide show/audio report, "Out and Alone: Gay Homeless Youth"
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2007/03/08/us/20070517_GAY_FEATURE.html

Many links here with reports and resources:
http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-homeless.html
http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/homeless_youth
http://www.sovo.com/2006/12-8/news/localnews/homeless.cfm
http://gaylife.about.com/od/headlinesnewsstories/a/glbthomeless.htm
http://www.creators.com/opinion/deb-price/america-needs-to-tackle-rise-in-homelessness-among-gay-youth.html
http://nyc24image.blogspot.com/2008/05/gay-homeless-youth-keep-up-appearances.html

[Bluenorthwest]

1. Kicked for the DUers who hold the prejudice that all gay

people are rich white men.

[Duncan Grant]

2. Kick (nt)

:kick: