LGBT represents lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals.
LGBT individuals often struggle to find shelters that accept and respect them.
Transgender people, in particular, are frequently required to identify as a gender that does not align with their identity.
This puts them at significant physical risk in shelters, largely due to a lack of acceptance.
For example, transgender women (who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as women) may be forced to stay in facilities with heterosexual men, where they frequently experience verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
Additionally, many transgender individuals are denied access to shelters altogether, with some establishments even posting signs explicitly prohibiting their entry.
LGBT Homeless – YOUTH
- 20% of homeless youth identify as LGBT, while only 10% of the overall youth population does
- While family conflict is the leading cause of homelessness among youth, LGBT youth are twice as likely to have experienced sexual abuse before the age of 12
- LGBT youth who have experienced homelessness face a higher risk of victimization, mental health challenges, and engaging in unsafe sexual practices. Research shows that
- 58.7% of homeless LGBT youth have experienced sexual victimization, compared to 33.4% of their heterosexual counterparts
- LGBT youth are approximately 7.4 times more likely to encounter sexual violence compared to heterosexual homeless youth
- LGBT homeless youth have a higher suicide rate (62%) compared to heterosexual homeless youth (29%)
LGBT Homeless – POLICY ISSUES
LGBT individuals everywhere deserve respect. However, when it comes to those experiencing homelessness, additional considerations should be made.
Forcing someone to conform to the sex assigned to them based on their physical characteristics and genitalia is cruel.
At the same time, requiring a person to undergo gender-affirming medical procedures in order to be recognized as their self-identified gender is both unjust and demeaning.
Everyone, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, or stage of self-discovery, deserves access to safe and secure shelter.
Suggestions:
- Conduct research to determine whether LGBT individuals are legally protected against discrimination in your state or local area.
- Provide training for shelter staff on how to support and advocate for LGBT individuals, along with establishing written policies to prevent discrimination (refer to the “Transitioning Our Shelters” guide).
- For federal and state guidelines, refer to “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness.”
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES
1. LGBT Homeless Youth Fact Sheet
This content is published on the SSC website with permission from The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.
The Alliance conducts policy analysis and develops practical, cost-effective solutions.
By collaborating with public, private, and nonprofit sectors, it strengthens state and local efforts while providing data and research that enhance programs and policies aimed at ending homelessness.
2. Challenges Faced by Homeless Sexual Minorities: Comparison of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Homeless Adolescents With Their Heterosexual Counterparts
From American Journal of Public Health, May 2002, Vol. 92, No. 5, pgs. 773-777. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.92.5.773
3. Transitioning Our Shelters
As more young people come out as transgender or begin cross-dressing at earlier ages, many are being forced out of their family homes.
4. Being Safe, Being Out: Helping LGBT Youth in Crisis
Curious if the National Runaway Switchboard is a safe resource for homeless LGBTQ youth? Check out this free downloadable brochure, which includes statistics, key information, and helpful resources. Perfect for clinic or counseling waiting areas, classrooms, or libraries.
5. Hidden in Plain Sight: Homelessness amongst Lesbian and Gay Youth
W. O’Connor and D. Molloy (2001) examine the causes of homelessness among young lesbian and gay individuals and the challenges they encounter. Their research involved interviews with a diverse group of lesbians and gay men aged 15-24 from six different UK cities.
6. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness
A report published on January 30, 2007, by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in partnership with the National Coalition for the Homeless highlights the challenges faced by LGBT homeless youth. Among the estimated 1.6 million homeless youth in the United States, up to 42 percent identify as lesbian or gay, with a disproportionately high number identifying as bisexual or transgender.
Various factors contribute to homelessness among LGBT youth, including family rejection—one study found that 26 percent of gay teens who disclosed their sexual orientation to their parents or guardians were told to leave home.
Additionally, many LGBT youth flee due to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Unfortunately, even in shelters, they often face harassment, mistreatment, and abuse from both staff and other residents.
7. The National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Advisory Council on LGBT Homeless Youth
This includes both national and local nonprofit organizations committed to advocating for greater support for LGBT homeless youth.
To raise community awareness, the National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, in collaboration with Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the National Network for Youth, have published three new documents.