Young, gay, and homeless: fighting for resources
NPR has an interesting piece on the plight of homeless LGBT youth, and their struggle for even having beds in shelters for them.
The article brings up an interesting point: the gay rights movement largely - perhaps exclusively - focuses on the more abstract legal rights that benefit adults, like marriage equality or employment protections. Gay kids have no power, and if they've been kicked out, no one to help take care of them, but the gay rights movement largely ignores them and politicians have no incentive to help them, particularly in times of tightening budgets.
On the flip side, the government can do all it wants, and it isn't going to solve the social problem of being kicked out. The government - or private charity - can make it somewhat easier, somewhat more comfortable, but it isn't going to resolve the issue of a constant stream of LGBT youth having nowhere to go because their families kick them out.
The article brings up an interesting point: the gay rights movement largely - perhaps exclusively - focuses on the more abstract legal rights that benefit adults, like marriage equality or employment protections. Gay kids have no power, and if they've been kicked out, no one to help take care of them, but the gay rights movement largely ignores them and politicians have no incentive to help them, particularly in times of tightening budgets.
On the flip side, the government can do all it wants, and it isn't going to solve the social problem of being kicked out. The government - or private charity - can make it somewhat easier, somewhat more comfortable, but it isn't going to resolve the issue of a constant stream of LGBT youth having nowhere to go because their families kick them out.