20 - 40% of Homeless Youth are Gay...

[KLN]

San Francisco Chronicle

Many gay youth are homeless

Group constitutes big share of young people on streets

Wyatt Buchanan, Chronicle Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Homelessness is rampant among young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless. While gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people constitute between 3 and 5 percent of the general population, they make up 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth in the United States, according to the report.

In San Francisco, between 700 and 1,300 homeless people ages 12 to 24 are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, according to local organizations that work with homeless youth.

"This report documents that there is an epidemic of homelessness of LGBT youth, and at the same time it's a national disgrace that the national government has completely failed to respond," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the task force, which is based in New York.

The report examines the problem and calls for federal spending to help this portion of the homeless youth population.

"There are a multitude of reasons these youth become homeless, but ultimately, family conflict is the major cause," said Nicholas Ray, the author of the report.

Once homeless, the young people face a minefield of substance abuse, depression and risky sexual behavior, including selling sex for money or shelter, according to the report.

Angelika Torres, a 20-year-old transgender woman who grew up in Manhattan, said she left her home after being forced to cut her hair and act more like a boy. She now lives in transitional housing there. "One thing I know from my own experience is that this needs to stop. Kids cannot live like this," Torres said during a press conference on the report Tuesday.

The report, partially released in December, is based on numerous estimates and studies but no scientific counts.

It states that youths often face harassment or discrimination in shelters and that less than $1 million of the $105 million the federal government spends to fund the Runaway, Homeless and Missing Children Protection Act goes to organizations that work exclusively with them.

Many kids who leave their homes go to New York and San Francisco, which are viewed as bastions of support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people in need. But reality in those cities can be harsh, especially with regard to housing, said Jodi Schwartz, executive director of Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center in San Francisco.

"They've come to the golden city for queer folks and expect to find everything they need here, and they find they're landing in a city like any other and there's no place to go," she said.

Schwartz said most of the young people who come to her organization, known as LYRIC, identify as "gender queer," a label they use to define themselves outside traditional sexual orientation or gender roles.

Even in San Francisco, there are just 25 subsidized housing units designed specifically for formerly homeless gay youth, created two years ago with $750,000 in city funding. Advocates said the housing, which includes mental health services and other support, is helpful but inadequate to meet the need.

About one-tenth of the funding the city gives Larkin Street Youth Services is for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender services. Executive director Sherilyn Adams estimates that 30 to 35 percent of the city's homeless youth are gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual.

Adams said the city, which contracts with Larkin Street to house homeless youth, should be lobbying the state and federal government for more funding.

"San Francisco should be the leader in the care of youth who are pushed out of their homes or communities because of their sexual orientation," Adams said.

[KLN]

And as I mentioned in another thread, it's been confirmed that the Salvation Army will turn away helping homeless gay youth if they've been kicked out of their homes for that reason.

Need has no orientation, you assholes.

[JER Soaps Fan]

That's harsh. I never knew that about Salvation Army.

I'm BOYCOTTING their sorry ASSES NOW!!

[Shawn]

Its easy to understand why.

I was lucky. When I was 18 and came out, my father's initial reaction was that of hatred and I was thrown out for a year. Fortunately, I had friends who I could stay with and get myself together. Even more fortunate that my father eventually came around.

I know a lot of people from going out that are homeless and rely on staying from place to place so that they don't sleep in the park, or worse. A lot of them are resorting to escorting to keep themselves fed. It's heartbreaking.

And as for the Salvation Army, they can suck the big one. How dare they turn away someone in need because they happen to like what they like in the bedroom?

[JackPeyton]

see, i am the gay teenager that has the house that everyone who gets kicked out comes to. im lucky. my paents love me.. my mom loves that im gay and my dad, well he kinda puts up with it since he thinks me n my bestfriend r more than that n he really likes him.

and as for the SalArm... wtf is wrong with them>!

[Bree]

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, so it's not surprising they would turn away homeless gays. If they believe homosexuality is a Biblical sin they're not going to assist those they consider breaking God's word.

People should be helped regardless of their sexual orientation. People should be helped period. Homelessness is a serious problem, but it's even more dangerous for gays and lesbians, considering this country has a huge number of homophobes, some who will use violence to get their feelings of hate across.

[Brandeis]

This is a problem with many faith-based charities. The actual help they provide is secondary to their missionary work.