Study: Quarter of LGBT Teens in Mass. Are Homeless

Researchers at Children's Hospital in Boston have determined that nearly a quarter of Massachusetts' LGBT teenagers are homeless.

The report, which was released at the end of last month, surveyed more than 6,000 high school students across the commonwealth-researchers' findings are much higher than heterosexual teenagers, only three percent of whom do not have a primary residence.

While only five percent of the students who participated in the research program identified as LGBT, they accounted for 19 percent of those who were homeless. Fifteen percent of bisexual teenagers did not have a permanent roof over their heads. LGBT teenagers are also far more likely not to live with a parent or a legal guardian.

"What we know is that gay, lesbian, bisexual and especially transgender people are stigmatized by culture," said Grace Sterling Stowell, executive director of Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth. "So they're at high risk for being kicked out of their homes or having to drop out of school because of harassment or violence."

These statistics are not the only factor-Stowell pointed to the economy. In some cases of homeless LGBT teens, their parents who support or approve of their sexual orientation and gender identity may have lost their home and are living together on the streets.

"Families in general are struggling and it's cumulative," said Stowell.

On the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's website, the Office of Health and Human Services has a list of centers that cater to LGBT youth. These include BAGLY, the Bridge of Central Massachusetts in Worcester, Health Care of Southeastern MA in Brockton, Out Now in Springfield and the Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders AIDS Prevention Project.

"Safe Spaces for GLBT Youth is committed to providing opportunities for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth to develop their full potential in a safe and supportive environment," states DPH on its website.

DPH spokesperson Julia Hurley told EDGE that the agency created Safe Spaces, the coalition of shelters and organizations that help homeless LGBT youth, after "disparate rates of suicidality" were reported in Massachusetts. Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, an 11-year-old student from Springfield, hanged himself in April 2009 after he endured weeks of anti-gay bullying. Another student, Phoebe Prince, took her own life in Jan. 2010 after her South Hadley High School classmates repeatedly harassed and bullied her.

"The department [has] prioritized GLBT homeless youth by seeking applications from providers that would offer drop-in centers and other services and supports for GLBT homeless youth," said Hurley. "The department currently funds two programs providing such services - AIDS Action's Youth on Fire and Justice Resource Institute's HELP (Housing and Employment Linkage Program.)"

With these figures out in the open, what will the DPH do to help LGBT homeless youth with winter looming?

The DPH did not provide any specific information on how it would help homeless LGBT youth get through the winter. The agency did, however, stress it has worked closely with the Massachusetts Commission on LGBT Youth.

"I don't know of any structure plans [from the DPH or Housing Department] but winter is a very hard time because it's very different to be living on the street in sub-zero weather," said Stowell. "At that point, it gets scary. Young people are by themselves in an unsafe situation just to get off the street to survive at night."

Stowell explained that LGBT youth are more likely to accept an unsafe living situation in an instable shelter or spending the night in a stranger's home in the winter because it's the only way to get away from the cold.

Log onto the OHHS' LGBT youth website or www.bagly.org for more information.