LaDarius Doaks

Professor Reed
Composition I
Fall 2015
Informational Report

According to the U.S. Census in 2014, the population of America is 318.9 million total.
35% of that total are homeless people. 40% of homeless Americans identify as a part of the
LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community. 68% of them were kicked out due
their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The LGBT youth are homeless for multiple
reasons such as family religion, abuse happening to them due to their lifestyle, and running away.
The Second National Incidence Study of Missing Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway Children
determined that 1.7 million LGBT youth experienced at least one episode of homelessness each
year.
Recently, the LGBT have just been granted the right to marry, meaning same sex
marriage is legal all over the country now. The grass is not always greener on the other side. The
rate of homeless homosexuals and gender identifiers keeps quietly growing. To determine the
accurate amount is difficult to calculate. LGBT youth are often afraid to enter into regular
services or shelters or they dont know and dont have the information for the LGBT friendly
ones built for them, making the count difficult to come up with.
LGBT homelessness is a big issue because of the age range. LGBT youth are coming out
younger in todays modern world. In 2008, it was surveyed that the come out age was 18-22.

Due to the openness in the world today the youth are comfortable talking about this subject with
their parents so much younger. This is not necessarily a good thing. With a LGBT youth being
that young the rebellion factor will be higher. If not, then the depression will. Either way, the
chances of the youth living a regular life after they come out is slim to none. The parents dont
sometimes agree. This type of rejection leads the youth to desperate measures for attention and
support.
Parents abandon their LGBT youth every day. God didnt want it to be this way is a
common response in a religious household when a child comes out. Religious parents usually
kick out their child due to shame, anger, and confusion. In Boise, Idaho, Jackie is a lesbian
college student. She found the perfect girl for her and she decided to come out to her mother. She
was ready to take things serious with her significant other. She called her mother and told her.
Her mothers response was: I dont know what we could have done for God to have given us a
fag as a child. Then she hung up. Tragic.
LGBT homelessness is important. The initial cause of them being out of home is because of
their sexual orientation and/or identity. This certain population of homelessness is focused more
on because it can be stopped. Keeping LGBT youth who were thrown out on the street in a stable
service or shelter will decrease the rate of homelessness in America. LGBT youth are all
throughout the foster care system. With the issues of homophobia and heterosexism, its not safe
in a lot of places for members of the LGBT community.
New York has the highest percentage of homeless LGBT youth. The ages range from 12
to 17 years. That is not including gender identifiers. Washington is next in line followed by
California, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, and Kansas. Along the coasts, both East and West, the
LGBT youth are more accepted. These places have greater legal protection and programs to

better the LGBT homeless community. Currently, there are little to no help designed to meet the
needs of the LGBT homeless.
It is proven that the LGBT homeless turns to sexual exploitation quicker than a
heterosexual homeless person. This contributes to the rise in AIDS/HIV in the LGBT
community. Its very common for the homeless to resort to desperate measures to survive.
Homelessness is one of Americas biggest issues. The right to safe shelter and different
services should be granted to everyone. There is no telling when LGBT homelessness will end.