The Crisis of Homeless LGBT Youth

Among the growing casualties of state and local government spending cut backs are homeless LGBT youth, many of who are homeless because they were disowned by their "loving" Christian and Mormon parents. As a parent, I truly cannot understand WTF is wrong with a parent who would disown their own child because of an unthinking, simpleton like devotion to the writings of ignorant people of 2000-2400 years ago. Once again, religious belief displays itself as a true evil. In New York City, LGBT youth make up a staggering percentage of the homeless youth population. Nonetheless, the city of New York is proposing drastic funding cuts to agencies that provide much needed services to these youth. With winter setting in, the situation is a crisis. David Mixner looks at the impending disaster on his blog. Here are some highlights:
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The prestigious and legendary Ali Forney Center in New York City has been a safe place for homeless LGBT youth for years. They have dozens of beds for the young people, many kicked out of their homes for being a LGBT youth. In addition, it is a place in which they can seek counseling, a shower, a place to read, use a computer or just feel safe from the horror of being young and homeless in New York City.
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The day after Thanksgiving the city of New York notified the Ali Forney Center that because of our economic times they would be cut by $143,000. Other outreach centers for LGBT youth also were being cut including the Bronx Community Pride Center which is losing 50% of its funding. There is a real crisis in this city with homeless LGBT youth. There are an estimated 1,500 LGBT youth homeless on any given night in this massive city. These young people often have been rejected by their families, their communities and off their spiritual base.
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In many ways, the entire struggle for our freedom and full equality is so that another generation will not have to experience the tears, suffering and pain of our past journey. They are our future and our hope. With their rejections from their families and friends, we all have become their guardians. We cannot become so absorbed in our everyday battle for freedom that we fail to protect our young ones that are around us today.
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[T]his Christmas make a donation now to the Ali Forney Center or The Bronx Community Pride Center or to both to help out in this crisis.