Lgbtq Youth Thesis

The problem
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual transgender, and queer identified (LGBTQ) runaway and homeless youth are of the most vulnerable groups in this country. Homelessness, particularly among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer youth is an enduring example of a social problem in our society. In the state of California, it is estimated that roughly 15 to 25 % of the homeless youth identify as being a member of the LGBTQ population (Milburn, 2006) Communities are not aware of the real issues that these youth face, their day to day struggles.
Homelessness in the United States is a growing issue among our youth, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services homeless and runaway youth is estimated to between 575,000 to 1.6
The homeless LGBTQ youth engage in several different survival strategies to survive life on the streets that include substance abuse, survival sex, self-injury and sometimes forming street families because they are deprived of economic support and deprived of love. As, a result many of these strategies end up being illegal behaviors, contributing even more to the stigma of their identity as homeless LGBTQ youth. Many also viewed as having delinquent behaviors, many lack skills and resources needed for employment, so they find themselves with almost no options of survival.
The LGBTQ youth who are rejected by their families were also more than 8 times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly 6 times as likely to report high levels of depression, are more than 3 times as likely to use illegal substances, and are more than 3 times as likely to expose themselves to high risky sexual behaviors such as HIV, and getting sexually transmitted infections (Bernstein & Foster, 2008; Van Lewen,
We must talk to parents about how isolating, telling their children that they are shame of them, and keeping silence is a form of rejecting who they are and is putting them in great danger. At the same time, no one can deny that there is a lack of affordable housing, poverty, and failures within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems to prevent youth from entering life on the streets. On the Macro level systems should be further evaluated to address their role in contributing to this most alarming issue. Making shelters and transitional housing programs safe for LGBTQ youth improves conditions for all homeless youth regardless of sexual minority status. Culturally competent treatment in providing housing services to LGBT youth. Low housing occupancy limits and private showering facilities. Social Workers should be trained on LGBTQ non-discrimination and sensitivity. LGBT-specific homeless youth programs should be created. We also must care about the LGBTQ homeless youth because is wrong to leave theseyouth on the streets, as this could be anybody’s children.

Much of the research to date has focused on the pathology of youth and or their families (Garret et al.2008; Raleigh-DuRoff, 2004; Slescnick, 2009). However, when this happens we miss the opportunity