The Issues:
Youth Issues

LGBT Youth and Homelessness

The following information about LGBT youth and homelessness was provided by Rob Connoley at the Indiana Youth Group.

Various studies have shown that of homeless youth, 25 to 45 percent are LGBT in the United States.

According to Paul Gibson of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 26% of lesbian and gay youth are forced to leave home because of their sexual orientation. Out of that 26% Gibson found that 25% of youth living on the streets are lesbian and gay. If rejected by their families and unable to access support services, many LGBT young people become homeless, increasing their likelihood of engaging in prostitution and heightening risk for alcohol and drug abuse, violence, suicide, and HIV and other STDs.

In 1998 Pohan and Bailey did research for the FBI and found that "26% of (GLBT youth) who 'come out' to their families are thrown out of their homes because of conflicts with moral and religious values." Furthermore, "it is estimated that 30% to 40% of homeless youth in large cities are gay/lesbian youth."