LGBTQ Runaways

(Posted by Eva, '12)
Unfortunately, life as a runaway can be much harder for LGBTQ youth. They are not only at a greater risk for suicide, major depression, drug use, and sexual assault, they often have special needs that shelters often can’t or don’t provide. Here I am posting an article from Lambda Legal about the needs of LGBTQ runaways.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth
By: Flor Bermudez, Lambda Legal Staff Attorney

In homeless service settings, LGBTQ youth regularly face harassment and abuse—physical, verbal and sexual. They are isolated from other youth, threatened or attacked by youth and service providers, blamed by service providers for their own mistreatment and even denied services outright because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression. Transgender youth face particularly poor treatment. They are often targeted for harassment and assault, receive rooming assignments in accordance with their birth sex rather than the sex with which they identify, are called by their birth names and are forced to abide by dress codes with no room for their gender expression.

LGBTQ youth need: safe shelters where they are respected, referrals to LGBTQ-friendly physical and mental health services, affirming mentors and role models who can provide long-term sources of support in their lives and independent life skills and other transitional services that take into account the specific challenges that LGBTQ people face because of the pervasive discrimination that continues to affect our society.

In all homeless service settings, LGBTQ youth need protection from harassment and discrimination. All homeless youth serving agencies should be required to implement polices that prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression for youth, staff, volunteers and contract providers. Such policies send a clear message that maltreatment is unacceptable.

(picture above is of Sylvia's Place - a homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth in New York City)