President Obama Declares June LGBT Pride Month!

 

Hard to believe that June is here.  The months are just sliding by so quickly.  June is a strange month.  Full of goodbyes….to school, to high school especially as the graduations are over, and young people are moving on to the next stages of their lives.  And as we say to goodbye to certain things we are also welcoming in others…change being constant no matter who, what or where you are.

But one thing unfortunately does remain constant…the needs of our LGBTQIA youth.  For every success like Ireland’s recent vote for marriage rights, there’s Texas trying to hard to make sure that the LGBTQIA Community remain forever locked in a battle for recognition and rights.  All that as President Obama declares June LGBT Pride Month.  A President coming out  for       LGBTQIA rights is huge and something to be celebrated.  So what better way to mark Pride Month than by helping out LGBT youth in need.

In some areas, our schools provide the only shelter, safety net and meals for some children in need, no one more so than LGBTQIA youth.  Yes, there are shelters around but many don’t accept our LGBTQIA homeless youth, a disgrace that is underreported. Now with so many transgendered kids in the news in need of support, lets take time to look at those organizations and shelters doing a necessary job around the nation.  They are in need of our support and in any way you can manage, volunteering and monetary.

PFLAG :  Support your local PFLAG chapters and national organization.   PFLAG stands for Parents, Friends,( and Allies) of Lesbians and Gays.  Its a wonderful organization with local chapters everywhere.  From their Mission Statement:

What does PFLAG do? PFLAG supports people who are LGBTQ, their famlies, friends and alliesboth locally and nationally, providing PFLAG chapter support group meetings and resources. PFLAG also educates families and communities on sexual orientation, gender identity and LGBTQ issues. Local PFLAG chapters educate their communities through a variety of projects while PFLAG National continues to provide fair and accurate information about LGBTQ people, their loved ones, and the unique challenges they face. PFLAG also advocates for equal rights for people who are LGBTQ on local, state, and national levels. – See more at PFLAG website.

Lost ‘n’ Found Youth – Atlanta, GA:  Atlanta’s only non-profit organization dedicated to taking homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth off the street and into more permanent housing, Lost-n-Found Youth is dedicated to the advocacy and service of youth from 13 to 25 years old.

This includes a Crisis Hotline Call or text 678-856-7825 24 hours a day, seven days a week.    A truly wonderful organization.  You can find/donate at

Website:   http://lnfy.org/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LostNFoundYouth

Ali Forney Center – New York City, NY.  The Ali Forney Center is the largest and most comprehensive program in the nation dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless LGBTQ youth.   From their website:

AN EPIDEMIC OF HOMELESSNESS
Studies have found that LGBTQ youth comprise up to 40% of the homeless youth population in New York City. In December 2007 the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services (ESC) reported on the findings of the first New York City Council census of homeless youth in NYC. This data showed that 28% of the street youth identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, 11% were unsure of their sexual orientation or were not comfortable answering the question and 5% identified as transgender with another 18% unsure or choosing not to answer the question about gender identity.

The study also verified what we see at the Ali Forney Center (AFC) everyday; LGBTQ street youth experience greater levels of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking violence, trauma, HIV infection, mental health issues and substance abuse than their heterosexual counterparts in the homeless youth population.

Website:  http://www.aliforneycenter.org/

Write and let me know about the shelters in your area.  Hopefully, soon I will be able to report about a LGBTQIA Shelter in MD-VA-DC soon.  Here are a few more organizations so necessary for Equality and Acceptance:

HRC (Human Rights Campaign):   From their website:

As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality.

HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Website:  http://www.hrc.org/

Matthew Shepard Foundation:   Matthew Wayne “Matt” Shepard was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming on the night of October 6, 1998, and died six days later at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12, from severe head injuries.  This foundation, formed by Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother.  From their website:

“Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs, and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, & Acceptance” through its varied educational, outreach and, advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.”  This includes The Laramie Project, outreach programs and much more.

Website:  http://www.matthewshepard.org/

Let’s Make a Difference…one person at a time.

 

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 31:

• A Close Look at LGBTQIA Shelters and Organizations, Our Schedule This Week

Monday, June 1:

• Wild Pitch Cover Reveal for Sloan Johnson (giveaway)
• A BJ Review: Manbot by Scarlet Blackwell
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Sultry Sunset by Mary Calmes
• A MelanieM Review: Two Hearts, One Voice by Valentina Heart

Tuesday, June 2:

• Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston. Book blast and contest
• Running With the Wind by Shira Anthony – The Mermen of Ea Finale Tour and Contest
• A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt
• A MelanieM Review: Running with the Wind by Shira Anthony

Wednesday, June 3:

• Larry Benjamin’s ‘Vampire Rising‘ cover reveal and giveaway
• Chris T. Kat ‘Despite the Odds‘ Book Blast and Contest
• The Live Oak Tales by Stephen Del Mar Tour and Contest
• A Stella Review: Knight of Ocean Avenue (Love in Laguna #1) by Tara Lain
• A MelanieM Review: Tall With Room by A.J. Llewellyn

Thursday, June 4:

• Book Tour:  For Real by Alexis Hall (giveaway)
• A Mika Review: Piece Us Back Together Anthology
• A MelanieM Review: Little Wolf by R Cooper
• A Mika Review: Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews

Friday, June 5:

• A Stella Review: Alchemy Ever After by Raine O’Tierney and Sion O’Tierney
• A Mika Review: Kage by Maris Black
• A BJ Review: Human Choices (Guardians of the Leythe #2.0) by Jaye McKenna
• A MelanieM Review: The Summer House by RJ Scott

Saturday, June 6:

• YA Aurora Post
• A MelanieM Review: A Councilor to the Wolves by Liv Olteano