Homeless LGBT Youths Often Face Violent Life on the Streets

[JackBeck]

By Sarah Lockwood
PUBLISHED APRIL 7, 2008

Six months ago, 15-year-old Drew said he would have described himself as an “ordinary teenager.”

“I lived with my parents in a nice house in a good neighborhood in upstate New York,” he said. “I got good grades at school, and my life was pretty great.”

(snip)

“Mostly it’s other homeless people who do it,” he said. “They find out you’re gay, and then they wait for a chance to punish you. When I first got here I went to a shelter, but once the other kids found out I was gay they started teasing me and then one day they all ganged up on me and beat me up. We weren’t in the shelter at the time so the staff didn’t know, but now I’m too scared to go back or to try another shelter in case it happens again. I prefer to take my chances on the streets.”

(snip)

In 2007, the Empire State Coalition conducted a local survey in which it found that almost a third of homeless young people in New York self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. These findings closely mirror a similar study conducted nationally by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which estimates that between 20 percent and 40 percent of all homeless youth define themselves in this way.

More at: http://www.columbiaspectator.com/node/30281

[terrya]

1. This is the saddest part of a sad fact of life

“I tried to open the door, but my key didn’t work any more. So I started knocking and eventually my dad came to the door and told me that I was no longer his son and he never wanted to see me again. He said if I ever tried to get in touch with him or my mom again he’d find me and kill me,” he explained.

I imagine this is the reason most GLBT youths are on the streets, homeless. It's so horribly sad to know that a parent would disown their own children, cast them out on the streets, because of who they are.

[JackBeck]

2. It really is sad.

I remember the fear as a teenager thinking that if I came out, this would be the outcome.

I can't help but think of the sad irony that we have a Vice President that promotes an anti-gay agenda, yet has a lesbian daughter that has a child with her partner.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. Still an all too common situation

Back in the mid 80s, I was a deacon with the Metropolitan Community Church in Tucson. One of my duties was to work with area social services and find assistance for gay men and women who came to the church for help. Too many of them were teenagers, and it does not look like things have much improved since then.

Added: Please recommend. This is the sort of thing others need to see.

[JackBeck]

5. What a big impact it has when confronted with this problem face-to-face.

When I first read this article I wanted to scour the Upper West Side to find this kid. "Safe Space" is an organization that could help here in the City.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. This is why

I have lost all sense of patience. Suffer the children, indeed.

[qb]

6. K&R Another cruel rejection by cold-hearted parents.

The father should be brought up on charges for the assault & murder threats.

[mondo joe]

7. Absolutely true. I sometimes work with a homeless youth health clinic that

does amazing things, and of course serves disproportionately GLBT kids.

I wish there were better systems we could develop to help kids get out of unsafe homes into a safe environment.

[tjwmason]

8. I still find this hard to believe.

My parents are never going to be the type to join PFLAG or similar organisations - but I've always known that my being gay isn't a problem with them, because being their son comes far before other issues. I just can't imagine how a parent can throw a child (and in many cases we are talking about children) onto the streets just because of their sexual orientation...yet it happens, and happens all too often.

[DarkTirade]

9. GLBT youth face violence at home too.

Often that's what drives them to the streets in the first place. :\