GLBT Runaway, Kicked Out Youth....

[69forever]

I was watching PBS tonight and caught this show. It made me cry and took my breath away. It also gave me hope.

The statistics for abuse of GLBT or percieved queers in schools and the tolerance of those attacks are horrendous. The age of kids coming out is around 13-15 years old. Kids who flee rural discrimination end up living on the street and are prey.....even in "shelters".

Minnesota has established, within the GLBT community, a program offering these teens "safe haven". Taking them in and giving them shelter, food and counceling if wanted/needed. The first such organized program in the country. Entirely run by volunteers within the GLBT community.

What do you think?

 

[CJontherocks]

I think that's awesome! I would definitely volunteer to help an organization like that. In fact, I think I'd like to look for one in the SF Bay Area. If anyone knows of any in the North Bay area, give shout out.

And I'll look for another airing of that show, too. Thanks, 69!

 

[deezire1900]

I live im MN, and I think I have heard about this? I once heard of a program where GLBT singles and couples take in runaways to help them get on there feet, but when i inquired about it at Pride, no one new what I was talking about.

 

[Nackereia]

I'm for it...but at the same time, I can see it being a problem. What if someone takes advantage of one of the kids? Then the whole entire "gays are evil" thing comes out and yeah. Not good Course...I could be paranoid, but I honestly think it's bound to happen :$

 

[RadicalFlower]

It is a shame a Person can not live the way they want .. i used to think the same way them ppl did ..that is was not right to want to be with the same sex... untill i started having feeling for other woman as well and wanted to be with other woman and not just with men ... i am bi ..but i think it is a great idea and kids need to feel secure in there sexurailty and be proud of it ...and shelters like that help them so that is vert good i think...

 

[Netzach]

I live im MN, and I think I have heard about this? I once heard of a program where GLBT singles and couples take in runaways to help them get on there feet, but when i inquired about it at Pride, no one new what I was talking about.

http://www.youthlinkmn.org/housing/hosthome.html

 

[Netzach]

I'm for it...but at the same time, I can see it being a problem. What if someone takes advantage of one of the kids? Then the whole entire "gays are evil" thing comes out and yeah. Not good Course...I could be paranoid, but I honestly think it's bound to happen :$

Nobody says heteros should not be foster parents despite the huge incidences of sexual abuse by foster parents.

We have to take care of our own.

When I'm old and stable enough to do a host home kid, and if I can convince my partner, I might.

 

[deezire1900]

Thank you for the link...

I really didn't know what to say to what Nackeriea posted. I am actually at a loss for words.


I could be paranoid, but I honestly think it's bound to happen :$

 

[Nackereia]

Nobody says heteros should not be foster parents despite the huge incidences of sexual abuse by foster parents.

Yes, that's true. But if a homosexual does it, there will be this huge stink about it, and some people will be all "All homos are pedaphiles!!"

 

[Netzach]

Of course.

So we should let our already suicide prone youth continue to kill themselves at the highest rate, do nothing, and hope that the same heterosexual people who would raise that stink solve the issue?

I refuse to see this as an unsolvable problem because someone may say something that they have no legal recourse to prove. or because one sick fuck who happens to be gay might molest a child, as opposed to a sick fuck who happens to be straight.

Sure, there are efforts to sabotage adoptions by gay parents based on the "pedo" claim, but as fucked up as things are, they are not that fucked up, usually -- this is a pilot of something that's desperately needed. These are not "kids" either that we are talking about, to my understanding many of these youth are 16-21, some are single parents, some are ex-prostitutes, some are even trying to go to college and they have parents that won't/can't provide basic resources in that process.

Society has already turned a blind eye to these people.

This is an investment in the next generation of GLBT adults that we can't afford to not make.

 

[Etoile]

I wonder if the Harvey Milk High School in NYC offers similar services for their students. Then again, I guess if your parents are willing to send you to that school, they've already accepted their kid is gay and don't mind their kid interacting with other gay kids... so they probably wouldn't be kicking their kids out.