Each month Fatima Johnson, Brightlane’s Community Engagement & Education Strategist, will be sharing some educational information and resources as we continue to learn together. This month she is helping us learn more about Pride Month.
Pride Month began as a series of protests against police brutality targeting the LGBTQ+ community and has since grown into a global movement celebrating LGBTQ+ identity and culture. As many mark the occasion by attending events, exploring the history of the LGBTQ+ community, and advocating for equal rights, let us also remain mindful of the very real barriers still facing LGBTQ+ individuals — particularly our youth.
According to Trinity Haven, Indiana’s first dedicated residential facility for LGBTQ+ youth, an estimated 150 LGBTQ+ young people experience homelessness in Indianapolis every night. Research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers and make up nearly 40% of all unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, according to a study by True Colors United and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. The causes are wide-ranging: family rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity, fear of seeking shelter due to anti-LGBTQ+ bias or a lack of affirming care, and systemic barriers rooted in restrictive regional policies and insufficient protective infrastructure.
As we move through the month of June, consider deepening your understanding of the challenges facing our LGBTQ+ neighbors and youth and take action by advocating for and supporting their equitable treatment. Resources to help guide you are listed below.
Read:
- LGBTQ+ Youth Encounter Alarming Disparity in Homelessness Rates
- The Alarming Plight of Homeless LGBTQ Youth
- The Impact of Houselessness and Food Insecurity on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People