As you might have guessed from the title of this post, I am
back in the good ol' U S of A. And also jetlagged and confused. I've either
been in a plane or in an airport for a good twenty hours today. Nothing feels real.
Before I go into this week's topic, I wanted to add a little to the discussion about Q High.
One N Ten hosts the site, but AZ Virtual Academy provides the classes and the
teachers (although staff at One N Ten will help tutor). There are more than 130
core, elective, and AP classes available, so yes, the students are able to select from
a wide range of classes and follow their interests (while completing required
courses).
Since I haven't been at the Youth Center all week, let's talk a little about
homeless LGBTQ youth. I'll be referencing the research I compiled while planning this
project.
Unfortunately, LGBTQ youth are over-represented among homeless youth, about
comprising 9-45% (depending on the context of locality) of all homeless youth while
only 5-7% of the general population of youth, as found by the LGBTQ Homeless Youth Provider Survey (Cray). The most commonly-cited reasons for living away from home,
as reported by the homeless LGBTQ youth, are family rejection and conflict.
The youth seem to feel that they cannot stay at home once rejected, and
43% of the providers that were part of the survey state that youth were forced out
by their parents after coming out. However, the survey found that LGBTQ youth
are less likely to state that they were “thrown out” than their heterosexual and
cisgender peers, instead self-identifying as “runaways,” indicating that while
the LGBTQ youth may not be forcibly removed from their homes on a large scale,
they often feel that the familial conflict leaves them no choice but to leave (Cray).
None of the youth at the Center have spoken to me about why or how they became
homeless, but I'm not surprised by that. It also seems that the older youth
at least are more used to being homeless and just take each day as it comes.
 |
| No one should have to feel like this. |
The CDC found that a disproportionate number of LGBTQ youth
engage in health-risk behaviors compared to the general population ("Sexual").
Homeless LGBTQ youth are three times more likely to participate in survival sex,
such as trading sex for food or shelter or other basic needs, than their peers,
thus increasing the risk of trauma, violence, rape, and disease (Cray).
I hope I don't need to explain how bad that is.
We can change these statistics by providing more GSA clubs
(some support is better than none, plus it's a nice message that the school
supports all of its students) and other institutional supports.
Youth Centers like One N Ten are doing a great job, but it would be nice
to prevent the homelessness and poor quality of life in the first place.
Sources:
Cray, Andrew, Laura E. Durso, and Katie Miller. "Seeking Shelter - Center for American Progress."
Center for American Progress, Sept. 2013. Web. 7 Nov. 2016.
"Sexual Identity, Sex of Sexual Contacts and Health-Risk ..." Center for Disease Control, 6 June 2011. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
Hi Stirling! It is very disappointing that people think the way they do. Just because someone has different qualities they find attractive does not mean they should be ostracized. It is truly disgusting to know people think like that. You mentioned GSA clubs... Are they Gay Straight Alliance clubs? Also, how else could we help these youth besides GSA clubs? Looking forward to your next post!
ReplyDeleteHi Brent! Yep, I was using an abbreviation from a previous post. Education regarding the plight of LGBTQ youth and, of course, getting rid of irrational fears and bias will help LGBTQ youth be accepted as part of society
DeleteHey Stirling! Its very disheartening how youth who come out are being isolated and excluded in such a manner. People should not be excluded for being themselves rather they should be accepted in society for who they are. With regards to the number of homeless youth, what measures are being taken to mitigate the amount of youth being forced out?? Again interesting post and can't wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure about prevention measures, since my research has focused mostly on support directed towards the youth's social relationships but not familial.
DeleteWe welcome you to the USA. How was Australia? I hope over time, more people will be willing to accept LGBTQ youths for who they are. Does the center help the homeless youths find food/shelter? Or do they just leave when the day ends? Looking forward to your next post.
ReplyDeleteOne N Ten offers housing through the POND program, but youths have to apply. Everyone is given free food, and while the staff will help youth find shelter through other organizations, the youth do leave the Youth Center once the day ends.
DeleteHi Stirling!
ReplyDeleteI hope your trip to Australia was amazing!! Its so hard to hear that people are just so awful towards LGBTQ youth. I don't really have amy pressing questions, I guess, except how do you feel your research is coming along so far? Looking forward to reading your next post!
My research is coming along really well! I'm going to start drafting my paper and conducting interviews soon.
DeleteHi Stirling! It's horrible that some LGBTQ youths feel they have to leave their homes just because of who they are. I agree full heartedly-- no one should have to feel like this. But I am so glad that support programs like GSA clubs exist to help them get through this. Do you think that increased education about LGBTQ people will reduce these statistics so that future generations will feel less threatened by rejection and social isolation? Maybe this could lead to a decline in the percentage of runaway LGBTQ youths, so they never have to experience such trauma and violence.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! Like any other issue, education will certainly help with understanding and reducing irrational fears.
DeleteHey Stirling! Does One and Ten provide counselling or support for LGBTQ teens that succumb to "survival sex"? This is truly awful to hear and I hope that the center, if they don't already, will provide help to those teens. Thank you for shining a light on this issue.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if the counselling they provide is specific to any matter, but they certainly do provide counselling! They also provide condoms, lube, and other items to promote safe sex.
DeleteHi Stirling, it is truly horrible that LGBTQ youth are being forced out of their homes or feel the need to leave them. Do you know of any organizations that provide shelter or other necessities to these youth? If not, do you think more exposure of this issue would result in a organization like that? Thank you and good luck with your research!
ReplyDeleteThere certainly are organizations that provide help, but from what I've seen One N Ten is the largest and provides the most help. I don't think there are other organizations that provide anywhere near the amount of services that the youth need, but I definitely think exposure fo this issue would help.
DeleteHi Stirling, it is sad to hear about all the unfortunate conditions that some LGTBQ youth are in. what are GSA clubs?
ReplyDeleteGSA is my abbreviation for Gay-Straight Alliance, which I mentioned in my previous post. GSA clubs provide a space for LGBTQ youth to gather and support each other within the school system.
DeleteHi Stirling. It is heartbreaking to hear that LGTBQ have to live in such unjust circumstances. You said we can help provide support through GSA clubs. What would be some ways we can implement these clubs, and can we establish them through schools?
ReplyDeleteGSA clubs are part of a school's extracurriculars and I assume they can just be established like any other club? I've never really tried to make a club or GSA club, so I'm not sure how creating an extracurricular works, but that's what I've assumed. BASIS Scottsdale doesn't have one, but some schools around the valley do.
DeleteHi Stirling! I can't believe how many LGBTQ youth make up the homeless population and have to run away from home because they feel ostracized! This is so sad!! The Harry Potter GIF was the only thing that kept me from sobbing like a crazy person. Anyways...do you have any ideas about how we can go about preventing homelessness and poor quality of life for LGBTQ kids (besides getting their families to accept them) through a club or organization or something?
ReplyDeleteHi Shreya! It is really sad, but institutional support (such as GSA clubs) can help show the LGBTQ youth that there is help for them. Outside of school, which can't provide as many services (simply because schools don't have the funding), organizations such as One N Ten help with increasing the confidence of the youth as well as providing basic needs such as food and shelter. There are also support groups such as Trans groups to provide specific support.
Delete