🏳️‍🌈#LGBTVoices Celebrates🏳️‍🌈
FIFTY YEARS OF PRIDE

Today: Homeless LGBT youth

In this thread, I’m going to do something a little different. I’m going to share a couple of personal stories on LGBT youth, followed by resources for LGBT youth facing homelessness/are homeless

#PRIDE

Jack’s story from #NationalComingOutDay 2018—

Jack had a life altering impact on me. As an ally, it wasn’t even a hesitation to NOT take him in.
Jack didn’t have a support system & would’ve been homeless w/out help for coming out to his mother.
#Pride2019

https://twitter.com/trinityresists/status/1050589797033472002?s=21

I am happy to report that Jack’s story had a good outcome. Jack has moved to another state into his accepting father’s home. He is in college and currently pursuing his passion in architecture.
I’m proud to this amazing kid’s surrogate, bonus mom.

#PrideMonth2019
#LGBTVoices

Before Jack, in HS my friend “Sam” dated another friend of mine for ~1yr

When he broke up w/her, he came out to her—then to his closest friends

At first she was heartbroken—“great, I turned him gay”
Then she was like—”no wonder”
Then she & all of us became his advocates/allies

When Sam came out to his Catholic-evangelical-conservative parents, they didn’t throw him out of the house.
Instead, they forced him into conversion therapy. He was 16 & had no choice. It was either that or he was disowned & out on the street.

He chose forced conversion therapy.

Sam has stories from what he was forced to undergo—some of the horror stories we hear about conversion therapy are very real.
After conversion therapy, Sam was forced to continue therapy until college w/an evangelical Catholic therapist.
(Pence declared he’s evangelical Catholic)

I am happy to say, Sam met the love of his life & future husband in college, they’ve been married many years & they adopted a son from Guatemala.

Sam’s the greatest parent but he has a flaw he’s well known for: he purposely gives the noisiest toy he can find at baby showers.

Sam’s parents finally came around after a few years of not speaking to him for his chosen “lifestyle.” (They thought he was doing this to them in rebellion.)

I don’t know if they ever apologized to Sam. But today, his family accepts and loves Sam, his husband and son.

#PRIDE

2 different stories of LGBT youth facing or being forced into homelessness:

🏳️‍🌈Like Jack, 25% of LGBT youth who come out to their parents are forced into homelessness

🏳️‍🌈Many LGBT youth choose homelessness rather than go through what Sam did

#LGBTVoices

The stats on homeless LGBT youth:
🏳️‍🌈The day a child comes out to their parent or guardian, 1 in 4 will immediately become homeless
🏳️‍🌈Are 40% of the youth homeless population
🏳️‍🌈Are 120% more likely than their straight peers to become homeless.
🏳️‍🌈For LGBT POC youth, it’s 16% higher

🏳️‍🌈Family rejection on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity results in LGBT youth disproportionately experiencing homelessness.

🏳️‍🌈Currently, there are currently no federal programs to meet the needs of LGBT homeless youth.
#Pride
#LGBTVoices

https://twitter.com/hrc/status/1121062488454250496?s=21

Homeless youth experience & are disadvantaged due to
❤️Harm to mental/physical health
🧡Increased risk for sexual abuse/exploitation
💛Chemical/alcohol dependency
💚Social stigma/discrimination
💙Education attainment
💜Economic stability
🖤Life expectancy

The @TrevorProject is a national organization and is the only national 24/7/365 crisis intervention and suicide prevention lifeline catered for LGBTQ youth.

Call☎️1-866-488-7386

Text📲 678678

Chat 💻 thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/#…

#PrideMonth2019
#LGBTVoices

I have another friend who loved her son unconditionally when he came out. She wanted to learn everything she could to support him.
She contacted @PFLAG—Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
This warrior now runs a local chapter.

Find yours here:
pflag.org/find-a-chapter

Other National organizations LGBT youth can turn to for help and support is outlined in Craig’s thread on resources:
@glaad
@HRC
@TransEquality
@ACLU
@LambdaLegal

#PrideMonth2019
#LGBTVoices 🌈

https://twitter.com/jersey_craig/status/1135156952265318400?s=21

If you’re an LGBT youth who is in trouble or facing homelessness, please know you have allies.

Any one of us from #LGBTVoices are here to help. Look for the hashtag or reach out to anyone one of us in last year’s #PrideMonth project moment:

twitter.com/i/moments/1002…

We are #LGBTVoices

We are gay, we are straight, we are bi, we are trans, we are parents, we are single, we are allies, we 💚 you, we are #Pride

Here’s a list of our handles:
@Jersey_Craig
@MatthewWolfff
@TrinityResists
@DebbieDoesTwitt
@laureldavilacpa
@CyrusToulabi

Cont…

#LGBTVoices twitter handles cont:

@knittinglinda
@AllensOpEd
@swimmerbr78
@ALLCAPSTWEETX
@DeadpoolResists
@CaptJaneway2017
@julz91
@LMAO_in_Fla
@chrisehyman
@brycetache
@cmclymer
@lfkraus
@CaraTesoraMia
@TaoOfPooh
@addie_1122
@finnicknorth
@AWong_NJ
@ChocoHarveyMilk

#Pride2019

LGBT youth:
It doesn’t matter who you love & who loves you back. Those that have the capacity to love & give love in return to you are your tribe. They have your 6 & are allies. They will support you & are fighting for your rights.

#LoveIsLove
#LGBTVoices
twitter.com/i/moments/1133…