Cyndi Lauper has been an advocate (and ally) for LGBT homeless youth for some time now. And, one of her latest projects is to keep LGBT kids included in the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act.
From JMG:
Via press release from Cyndi Lauper:
Can you believe that there are people actively working to leave youth out in the cold? Don’t they realize it's just going to push us to work even harder to protect our kids?! The Family Research Council is one of those groups. Their target: a clause in the the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act that would specifically protect the 40% of homeless youth who identify as identify as LGBT.
This is what they had to say about the clause: “It contains a definition of gender identity (‘actual or perceived gender-related characteristics’) and sexual orientation that would require special protections for some individuals at the expense of the safety and privacy of all youth served by providers.”
I don’t understand how ensuring welcoming, affirming, and appropriate services for all youth jeopardizes anyone’s safety or privacy. Programs and services receiving federal funding must be inclusive of 100% our youth, not just 60%. This isn’t about protecting some youth, but ALL youth.
This is the sort of thing that helps to prove that animus against LGBT folks still exists. These religious (far) right groups seem to hate (or, at least discriminate against) gay kids as well as the kids of gay folks. Protecting these children is one of the major reasons that the federal DOMA was overturned. And, it's likely going to aid in the overturn of all state bans on marriage equality.
JMG has a link to Cyndi's site where you can donate and help her in the fight to help these homeless kids.