New Infogaphic: Preventing the Tragedy of LGBT Youth Homelessness

This was sent by Brian Pesner, the Community Manager for the Master of Social Work program at USC.

Here's the premise

Although homelessness affects many people, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth make up a disproportionate segment of that population. While 1.7 million adolescents experience at least one episode of homelessness a year, between 20-to-40 percent of that population identify as LGBT. 

In 2009, President Barack Obama declared June as LGBT Pride Month. The objective of this infographic, created in partnership with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Human Rights Campaign and the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work, is to highlight some of the unique challenges that lead to LGBT youth homelessness, in addition to some of the mental health problems that affect the population. While we still have a long way to go, several homelessness non-profits, federal agencies and LGBT advocacy organizations, such as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign, are working together to provide solutions to this tragedy.

Please check out this Infographic after the jump

In Miami: A look into the LGBT Homeless Youth

This is sad to watch. Also, this was one of the main topics at Creating Change last month.

More at Think Progress

New Documentary Series 'FADE IN' addresses Homeless LGBT Youth

A new online documentary will focus on individual stories of homeless LGBT youth.

Here's a synopsis

Fade In is a webisodic documentary series featuring inspiring stories from homeless LGBTQ youth. These 3-5 minute clips are not only designed to bring awareness to the fact that 35-40% of runaway or homeless youth in New York identify as being LGBTQ, but also to provide and promote a positive light forward for teens struggling with their identities due to personal, social, and familial factors. Each segment will be based around a different virtue (e.g. beauty, acceptance, compassion, faith) and will feature up to three youths discussing an uplifting story that relates to said virtue. Through smiles and laughter, tears and heartbreak, these touching stories shine a light on the truths of those forced to live in darkness. 

Watch the 1st clip

For more info, please go here

Obama Administration will address Homeless Gay Teens

ACF Commissioner Bryan Samuels

The Obama Administration is getting into the heart of the matter with homeless LGBT youth.  ACF Commissioner Bryan Samuels took the lead by creating a memo about homeless LGBT youth and how child welfare agencies can effectively care for these teens. Those efforts moved onward and upward to the Obama Administration:

The feds are intent on making up for lost time -- and not with memos. The Obama administration is spending millions on a pilot program in L.A. County aimed at assisting LGBTQ youth in the child-welfare system, Samuels said.

Congress has taken up the issue as well. On May 3, Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) reintroduced legislation that would ban discrimination of gay parents in adoption and foster care placements. Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) signed on as the first Republican co-sponsor of the bill at the end of the month.

"My home state of Florida had discriminatory laws in place that were preventing caring parents from adoption," she said in a statement. "This Federal bill is a step in the right direction so that the proper match between responsible parent and needy child can take place regardless of the parent's sexual orientation."

In mid-May, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act. More than 40 organizations and nonprofits signed on in support of the legislation.

Tucked into the bill, which calls for stronger supports for state wards, is a provision that HHS must create a five-year pilot program aimed at preventing families from rejecting gay children. The accompanying press release highlighted this angle. "There are common sense reforms we can implement to help make things better for LGBT youth," Kerry wrote.

This will take some time to be at a strong place, but these efforts are way better than several years ago.

 source

VIDEO: Stories from the Wanda Alston House - A Home for LGBT homeless youth

I stumbled on this story from my one of my search engines. The Wanda Alston House is a home for homeless LGBT youth between ages of 16 and 24. They can stay there for about 18 months while they work and go to school. This place sponsored by the Transgender Health Empowerment, a nonprofit organization.

The clip below focuses on Sarah Feliciano, a young transgender woman who is trying to find her way


For more info on the Wanda Alston House, go here

Sexy He-Man Art Show for LGBT Charity

A new and sexy art show is coming soon. Using one of our favorite childhood heroes (and to some of us, fantasies), 'Skeletor Saves' promise to be a hit while raising money for charity.

Here's more info:

Skeletor Saves is a collective charity show with work from top artists based on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, benefiting The Ali Forney Center.


Sponsored by Slick It Up and Aaron Cobbett and curated by Brian Moylan, Bradford Shellhammer, and David Mason.

Check out the pics:

go here for more

Georgia Homeless Shelter denies Gays

This is disgusting and ridic! Please watch

The Forgotten Ones

In our lavish, boy-toy ridden world we forget about another LGBT community: the homeless youths. 40% of all the homeless youth in the US are LGBT.

When they are thrown out, they are forced to figure out their next steps without any proper guidance. If they find a shelter to stay in, they are gay bashed or ridiculed. So they are damned all away around. I didn't realized that this was a growing issue, but more of our LGBT youth are on the streets doing whatever, whenever to survive. It breaks my heart to know this.

So I will look for ways to assist our homeless youths in L.A. I believe that these kids need people to provide them with some sense of hope. I feel that they have seen the dark side of things for too long. If we could do something to spark a sense of hope in them, I'm game.

I can't imagine being in their shoes. I can't imagine losing everything when you have nothing more to lose. It's very troubling to know that some of our younger generation is struggling with their sexuality as well as where they're going to sleep. I wish I had a place like Haven House (JEM reference). If I win the lottery, I will build a place for our kids.

For more on this issue, go here