LaDarius Doaks

Professor Reed
Composition I
Fall 2015

Argue a Position

Homelessness has been the topic of discussion since the first home was made. With the
increase of humans in the world, it has become more and more of an issue. It has also became a
bigger issue due to the fact that there are many factors included in homelessness today. One of
the most important factors is the lifestyle whether the homeless person is a member of the
LGBTQ or not. Yes, Homelessness is homelessness, but there are many flaws that come into play
with a LGBTQ homeless individual. These flaws have been and are still being overlooked in
todays society. Being blind to the LGBTQ will prolong the process of ending homelessness
overall.
Prejudice, discrimination, and homophobia are the three main reasons why LGBTQ
homelessness is so hard to get rid of. The City Union Mission in Kansas City, Missouri, provides
services for surrounding homeless people. City Union has expressed that they have and will turn
away members of the LGBTQ community who seek shelter as a same sex couple. City Union
also stated that: We have always provided shelter for youth who considered themselves gay. We
do require birth gender men to dress gender appropriately and the same for birth gender women
who consider themselves lesbian. We are committed to using Gods Word, the Bible, in all of
our ministries and programs. Will submit to the Bible as our final authority. This is City

Unions mission statement. Yes, it is their right to turn away whoever they feel for
whatever reason they chose because the charity isnt government funded, but this is just another
variable in why LGBTQ youth homeless will never end. The charity's decision to desert the
needs of gay couples and force Transgender into the clothing of the wrong gender is made all the
more complicated when looking at the particular problems of LGBTQ homelessness.
Family rejection is plays a major role in prolonging of LGBTQ youth homelessness. One
simple thing can keep LGBTQ youth off the street: Love your children. Religion based families
first instinct when their child comes out is immediate abandonment. If they dont force their
child out the home they resort to scolding the child or continuously forcing heterosexuality on
them which causes them to run away.
Many people dont believe that LGBTQ homelessness is really a thing or that its drastic
enough to be talked about. 40% of homeless youth identify as members of the LGBTQ
community. Only 7% of the general youth identifies as LGBTQ. Youth are coming out at an
exceptionally young age today. With this being popular, if they are thrown out or runaway, they
most likely will not know what to do where to go to seek assistance. They will not have the
resources to transition into this homeless lifestyle they were forced into. This happens every day,
so why isnt this a topic of discussion?
The lack of funding from the government is a barrier to bettering LGBTQ youth
homeless services. Only 14% of agencies resort to their mission saying that its not their
prerogative to take in members of LGBTQ. Carl Siciliano is the executive director of the Ali
Forney Center. The center is dedicated to assisting LGBTQ homeless youth in New York City.
Siciliano feels that the government hasnt done enough to support youth that are thrown out
when they come out because the parents will not accept them. He also stated that in a youth

development meeting for the Los Angeles County they talked about how to go about ending
homelessness is Los Angeles. LGBTQ homelessness was not brought up. He stated: Theres
like 5,000 homeless youth and 40 percent of them identify as LGBTQ, but in this meeting where
we were trying to engage the idea of ending homelessness in Los Angeles County, 40 percent of
the conversation was not about LGBTQ. The government has more than enough to end
homelessness as a whole, so to end LGBTQ homelessness would be minor.
Reports have consistently tracked the prevalence of the LGBTQ youth homelessness. The
percentage keeps rising and has no proof of even a minor slowdown. If the government does not
provide way better resources to reach the need of the LGBTQ youth, homelessness will not come
to an end soon. Parents also play a factor in the continuous rise in LGBTQ homelessness.