The Hidden Crisis: Kids put out "like trash" just for being gay

[Scuba]

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/17/427948/local-news-investigates-the-hidden-crisis-kids-put-out-like-trash-just-for-being-gay/

There are approximately 1.6 million to 2.8 million homeless young people in the United States and a disproportionate number — 20 to 40 percent — are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. LGBT youth often run away from home because of family conflict and then “face overt discrimination when seeking alternative housing, which is compounded by institutionalized discrimination in federally funded programs.”

Last night, a local CBS affiliate in Miami, Florida offered an in-depth look into the crisis of LGBT youth homelessness and the children who are put out “like trash” by parents who refuse to accept them:

Studies show that 320,000 to 400,000 gay and transgender youth face homelessness each year and that many lose their homes at the young age of 13 or 14, as they come out to their parents. Fortunately, the Department of Health and Human Services is already providing “training and technical assistance to States and Indian Tribes on a wide variety of LGBTQ-related issues” and the Obama administration has released recommendations for providing the best possible care in shelters for homeless LGBT youth.

But still, more must be done. There are currently no federal programs specifically designed to meet the needs of gay and transgender homeless youth and federal grant awards for homeless youth services “are being awarded to providers without mandating that they not discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As the Center for American Progress has recommended, President Obama should issue an executive order “recognizing both lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender homeless youth and homeless youth in general as special-needs populations, and protecting them from discrimination by federal grantees” and the federal government must begin developing programs “that help families from all communities support and nurture their gay and transgender children.”

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[The Doctor.]

2. If people don't want to be parents, they shouldn't have kids.

I think we should put out PSAs that tell people that if they're not prepared for a child of theirs to have 'unexpected' characteristics, then they should avoid having children.

[Scuba]

3. Thanks for adding that.

[saras]

6. And if they want to bail halfway through, they should pay back all the "child" benefits they got.

All that money should go to whoever has to do the second half of the job.

But all the tax deductions they got for having kids? All the other benefits? Pay it all back.

[Kellerfeller]

9. Your phrasing made me wonder something

Because of a recent thread about abortion that included Downs Syndrome.

If they nail down a DNA sequence that indicates a strong proclivity toward homosexuality, what would most of you think about people aborting kids with that sequence?

I am against aborting kids just because they have Downs, but considering 85-90% of those with Downs are aborted, would DUers feel the same?

But the reason I ask is because it would solve the "If people don't want to be parents, they shouldn't have kids." problem/issue.

[yardwork]

11. How do you think we would feel?

[Kellerfeller]

12. I gave up my mind-reading abilities

as a new Year's resolution.

[obamanut2012]

4. Thrown out like trash, sent to "Ex Gay" camps, beaten

You either love your kid or you don't. Love is not love if it is conditional.

[tammywammy]

5. +1 n/t

[Plantaganet]

7. Tragic. Entirely the result of religion. n/t

[Initech]

8. Yup. I used to belong to hardcore fundie church.

Leaving it was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.

[yardwork]

10. K&R