Editorial & Commentary

THE FORGOTTEN AMONG HOMELESS YOUTH

Editorial

by Bishop Paul Peter Jesep

"A spiritual creature, upon its appearance on earth, is given the power to say: 'I am and I love.'"
Dostoevsky

     Homelessness is a national epidemic in a consumer driven country like the United States that often boasts of wealth, charity abroad, and a high standard of living. Yet America is also a throw away society even in regards to its children. Approximately 40 percent of all homeless youth are gay, bi-sexual, lesbian, and transgender (LGBT). Hostility, ignorance, and discrimination deny them basic social services forcing some to engage in survival prostitution. Socially, politically, and spiritually LGBT have been shunned.

     "LGBT teens are treated differently" from other homeless youth, says Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center in New York City. "They face homophobia virtually everywhere they turn for help. They are subjected to violence and harassment in the homeless shelter system both from other homeless teens and from shelter staff."

     He adds, "They are more likely to opt out of the shelter system and try to make it alone on the streets often through prostitution." The Center, named in memory of a murdered homeless gay teen who counseled other youth in staying safe, provides housing and health services.

     Siciliano sees the pain, trauma, and heartache every day. "I started the Ali Forney Center in 2002. I had worked with homeless teens in New York City since 1994, and had been disturbed to witness how much worse life on the streets was for gay teens. I was particularly disturbed at the number of queer teens like Ali Forney who were murdered on the streets." He added sadly, "I've known five homeless LGBT teens who were murdered in New York City since 1994."

     "Nationally," he says, "the broader LGBT community has yet to come to grips with the phenomenon of LGBT youth homelessness. There are very few shelter or housing programs for LGBT youth. Thousands of these kids are in desperate straits in cities all over the country."

     According to T.J. Boyle, a New York state-certified social worker earning his doctoral degree at Yeshiva University, "far too little research is done on this population. As a result it's a greater challenge to lobby for resources on their behalf. Most studies on homeless youth are general in nature and don't address specific sub-population needs."

     "I would like to see more research," says Siciliano, "on how youth homelessness leads to HIV infection, drug addiction, mental illness, and criminalization. I believe strongly that the actual costs to society of ignoring homeless teens are far greater than the costs of providing these youths the services they need to get off the streets."

     Boyle has a vision and the intellectual prowess to help bring about substantive public policy changes that have the potential to positively impact thousands of young people throughout the country. "In a time of evidence based practice," says Boyle, a long-time advocate for the homeless who holds two Master degrees from New York University, "research needs to be done to better quantify the number of LGBT youth and the difficulties they face. Policy at this time is based on empirical research and without it, there will be no policy changes made. That is a fact."

     According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, in regards to homelessness in general, "there are several national estimates of homelessness. Many are dated, or based on dated information." This observation again underscores Boyle's point that more research must be done. "The best approximation," according to the National Coalition for the Homeless "is from an Urban Institute study which states that about 3.5 million people --1.35 million of them children-- are likely to experience homelessness in a given year."

     The research that Boyle speaks of will play a critical role in changing the Federal Runaway Homeless Youth Act. According to Siciliano, who spent four years working among the homeless in the Catholic Worker Movement and eight months as a Benedictine monk, "This law, which sets the parameters for youth homeless services in the United States, and which dictates how the federal money is spent on homeless youth, does not mention the existence of LGBT youth even though they make up 40 percent of the population."

     In 1989, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service puts the figure of LGBT homeless youth at 25 percent and researchers Caitlin Ryan and Donna Futterman in a book published about ten years later places the figure at 40 percent. In 1999, Arnold Shapiro produced a broadcast called "The Teen Files" noting that the figure reached 42 percent.

     Siciliano underscores that an amendment is needed to the Federal Runaway Homeless Youth Act that enables LGBT youth to have equal access to shelters, and a requirement that require youth shelter staff to receive training to better understand this population.

     Boyle points out that the cultural attitude among certain professionals needs to change. "Many people are hesitant," Boyle says, "to work with LGBT youth due to the idea among some of these professionals that they are promoting a sinful lifestyle." This is both a very damaging psychological judgment and an unhealthy social welfare response.

     Boyle also contends that their remains an erroneous attitude connecting pedophiles with homosexuality. Although studies, surveys, and statistical analysis of those incarcerated for pedophilia shows no connection, cultural politics in a divisive social environment have incorrectly linked the two. The key to addressing the problem, however, remains research and education.

     According to Siciliano, The Ali Forney Center has a philosophy reminiscent of Mother Theresa and Dorothy Day "who articulated their belief that Christ is most present in those who suffer and are rejected by society." Siciliano, a gay man, says he's been "very challenged by the homophobia that is often espoused by 'Christians.' I see it as a betrayal of Christ, who calls us to love and compassion and justice. I see nothing loving, compassionate or just in this phenomenon of gay kids being cast to the streets by their parents."

     Siciliano says there are two things he "would most like people to understand about homeless LGBT youth --how much pain they are in and how heroic they are."

     Furthermore, Siciliano explains that teens are at a vulnerable stage in their lives. "Teens are building their identities, figuring out who they are. It is a devastating thing to be rejected by one's parents and families because of who you are. Beyond the physical horrors of surviving on the streets as a teen, these kids have to carry a terrible [psychological] burden of struggling with feelings of being rejected, unwanted, unlovable, [as being] evil," he says. "Consequently many of these kids struggle with severe depression, anxiety, and trauma."

     The Rev. Canon Timothy Rich, Canon to Episcopal Bishop Gene V. Robinson of New Hampshire, is passionate about addressing the spiritual void that many have due to discrimination. "Just as God looked down upon creation and saw that what had been created was very good," Fr. Rich says of LGBT, "God looks down upon them, and proclaims that you too are very good. Just as Christ made a point of sharing His love with those who were marginalized, scorned and ridiculed by the power brokers of society, Christ continues to reach out in love to them."

     Fr. Rich hopes that the consecration of V. Gene Robinson as a partnered gay man will serve as an example to LGBT. "People around the world have recognized this as a blessing," he says. The Creator "has sustained him through great trials and hardships so that there might be a bit more justice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered folks." He adds that with Robinson's election as a spiritual leader "the Kingdom of God took one more step towards completion in love, fellowship, and community."

     Siciliano says of LGBT, "it is heroic to suffer so much for being honest about who you are. I do wish that the government, social institutions, and the gay community could better intervene so that these kids don't have to be so heroic."

Bishop Paul Peter Jesep, initially a lawyer and political scientist by training, now serves as a Bishop in the Eastern Orthodox Church. His Grace is a former aide to U.S. Senator Susan Collins, and has studied at Bangor Theological Seminary. The views expressed here are strictly personal. He may be reached at VladykaPaulPeter@aol.com.