The HRC’s Rachael Kenney provides information about who LGBTQI2-S Homeless Youth are.
Youth who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, or Two-Spirited (LGBTQI2-S) make up 20-40% of the homeless youth population. Because these youth identify as such, they are less likely to have a family to return home to and often face violence and rejection in the foster care system. Compared to their heterosexual peers, homeless LGBTQI2-S youth:
- are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide (VanLeeuwen et al., 2006);
- will experience 7.4 more acts of sexual violence (Cochran, Stewart, Ginzler and Cauce, 2002);
- and are more likely to have a history of involvement with the social service system (VanLeeuwen et al., 2006).
Youth experiencing homelessness face many challenges. Few shelter beds are designated for youth. Their legal status as minors often prevents access to services. Consequently, homeless youth are more likely to participate in illegal activities in order to meet their needs. Histories of family conflict are extremely common. Forty-two percent of LGBTQI2-S youth in out-of-home care have been removed from or kicked out of their homes due to family conflict directly related to their sexual identity (Ryan and Diaz, 2005). One-third of LGBTQI2-S youth who are homeless or in the care of social services experienced a violent physical assault when they disclosed their sexual orientation (Thompson, Safyer, and Pollio, 2001).
Like adults, these youth have basic needs such as food, shelter and health care that must be met before they can concentrate on their mental health, education, employment or other secondary needs. LGBTQI2-S youth need access to culturally competent child welfare services and community resources to help them meet these needs. In 2004, more than 2,500 LGBTQI2-S youth were denied access to a transitional living program for which they were otherwise qualified (Ray, 2006). Shelters can help by acknowledging the verbal and physical abuse experienced by LGBTQI2-S youth who are homeless, and by developing culturally competent, trauma-informed services that are more responsive to their needs.
What else do LGBTQI2-S youth need? They need caring, supportive adults. When LGBTQI2-S adults reflect on what made a difference in their lives, many say that there was a single positive role model (not necessarily gay) who stands out in their memory. As a service provider, why not be that memory?
References
Cochran, B.N. Stewart, A.J. Ginzler, J. A. and Cauce, A.M. (2002) Challenges faced by homeless sexual minorities: Comparison of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender homeless adolescents with their heterosexual counterparts. American Journal of Public Health, 92(5), p773-777
Ray, Nicholas. (2006). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute and National Coalition for the Homeless:Washington, DC. Available at:
http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/homeless_youth
Ryan, C. and Diaz, R. (2005). Family responses as a source of risk and resiliency for LGBT youth. Paper presented at the Child Welfare League of America Preconference Institute, Washington, DC.
Thompson, S.J., Safyer, A.W., & Pollio, D.E. (2001) Differences and predictors of family reunification among subgroups of runaway youths using shelter services. Social Work Research, 25(3)
VanLeeuwen, James M., Boyle, Susan, Salomonsen-Sautel, Stacy., Barker, D. Nico, Garcia, J.T., Hoffman, Allison, and Hopfer, Cristian J. (2006). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual homeless youth: An eight-city public health perspective. Child Welfare, 85(2), p151-170.