Celebrating Pride Month: Advocating for Homeless LGBTQ+ Youth

June is a month filled with vibrant colors, love, and acceptance as the world celebrates Pride Month. It's a time to honor and acknowledge the progress made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and to recognize the ongoing challenges faced by the community. One particular group that requires our unwavering support and attention is homeless LGBTQ+ youth. This blog post aims to shed light on their unique struggles and discuss how we can advocate for a brighter future for these resilient individuals.

Understanding the Challenges

Homelessness is a complex issue, but when combined with being LGBTQ+, the hurdles faced by young individuals become even more daunting. LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in the homeless population, with studies estimating that they make up around 40% of homeless youth in the United States. The reasons for this disparity are numerous, including family rejection, discrimination, and a lack of support systems.

The consequences of homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth are profound. They face higher rates of physical and mental health issues, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation. The experience of homelessness exacerbates the vulnerability that LGBTQ+ youth already face due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is essential that we come together as a society to address these challenges and create safe and inclusive spaces for these young individuals.

Advocacy and Support

1. Raising Awareness: Education plays a vital role in combating the issues faced by homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By promoting dialogue, hosting workshops, and engaging with local communities, we can raise awareness about the unique challenges they encounter and encourage empathy and understanding.

2. Collaborating with Organizations: Numerous organizations and nonprofits are dedicated to supporting homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By partnering with these organizations, we can contribute our time, resources, or expertise to help provide shelter, healthcare, counseling, and other crucial services. Additionally, consider donating to these organizations to amplify their impact.

3. Foster Safe Spaces: Creating safe spaces is essential for LGBTQ+ youth. Schools, community centers, and shelters can adopt inclusive policies and practices that affirm the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals. Training staff members, providing LGBTQ+ resources, and establishing support groups can help these young individuals feel accepted and valued.

4. Mentoring and Role Models: Many homeless LGBTQ+ youth lack positive role models and support systems. Volunteering as a mentor or providing opportunities for these young individuals to connect with LGBTQ+ adults can make a significant difference in their lives. By offering guidance, friendship, and a sense of belonging, we can empower them to overcome their circumstances and thrive.

5. Policy Change and Advocacy: Advocate for legislative changes and policies that protect the rights of LGBTQ+ youth and ensure their access to housing, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities. By contacting local representatives, participating in advocacy campaigns, and using social media platforms, we can amplify their voices and effect meaningful change.

As we celebrate Pride Month, it is crucial to remember the ongoing challenges faced by homeless LGBTQ+ youth. By advocating for their rights, fostering inclusive environments, and providing support, we can make a significant impact in their lives. Let us embrace the spirit of Pride Month by standing up for those who are most vulnerable in our community, ensuring that they have a safe and accepting place to call home. Together, we can create a world where every LGBTQ+ youth feels loved, accepted, and valued for who they are.

Why do you Care? - Message from our Founder

Fenix Youth Project empowers youth to use their voices and provides a safe space for them to ask questions. As adults, we tell youth to ask first before taking action but we never consider if we truly are ready for the question they have. Have you ever been asked, “Why do you care?” Have you ever been able to give an answer without stumbling over emotion? Did you spew the easiest and quickest response or did you digest the question and sit with your own inner child?

Young people are facing crises left and right. Youth often struggle in silence for long periods before figuring out how to tell someone about their experiences. Their experience matters. Their experience is why they choose to decline a shelter bed and rather sleep in a vehicle. Their experience is why they may respond to gestures intended to be nice, with anger. Their experience is why they ask, us adults, “Why are you tripping?” or my personal favorite, “Why do you even care?”

Do you know the answer? Why are you tripping? Why do you care? Those answers will reveal more than what you, the person answering, are bargaining for. Once you answer, your actions moving forward matter. I welcome those questions because call me a Leo, I love seeing my reflection. I want young people to hold a mirror to my face and see me being proud of what I see. I love being an example for them.

Adults get upset with young people because they tend to expose the adult’s inner child. Young people hold up a mirror and Adults don’t like what they see and now they have to make a choice to address their issues. I’m here to tell you, a lot of adults make the choice to not address their issues. They blame the young person and as all young people do, they follow in our steps whether they see it or not. Anyone under the age of 25 is impressionable because they are still mentally developing.

I ask you this question this holiday season and want you to truly sit with your inner child and be real. Why do you care? Listen to those answers. Check yourself - before you wreck someone else’s life.

Happy Holidays,

Amber Green

Founder/Executive Director

Message from our Youth Ambassador

Hi, my name is Tatiana Jean Baptiste, I’m 16 years old and a sophomore at Wicomico High school. I enjoy designing and creating new projects, I also love to take care of children and help the ones in need to the best of my abilities. Before I joined the Fenix youth Project, I found different ways to help people even if it's just a small deed it could just change someone’s life for the better. Ever since I was a kid, I would do fundraisers to help people in need no matter what the need. Joining the Fenix youth is the best thing I could’ve done. Everyone in the group is very positive and it’s a great safe place it's also a great way to meet new people. I believe that when you have an opportunity you should take it because in doing so you might just be able to help someone else. 

Interested in volunteering for the youth count? There is still time. Just call 443-736-8028

The Youth Count acts as an opportunity to connect with these youth to better learn about what we can do to help and connect them to initial supports and services.

What’s Youth Homelessness like on da shore?

It’s a growing issue and quite frankly we are behind in providing these services. Thanks to Wicomico Partnerships for Families and Children, Fenix Youth Project Inc. operates the only Youth Drop-In Center that provides resources to unaccompanied youth. Currently, right now we are serving 64 unaccompanied youth clients and their ages range from 16 to 24. Learn more about Fenix Youth Project Inc. www.fenixyouthproject.org