Comments on: Homelessness & Gay Youth http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/ Black. Gay. Father. Vegetarian. Buddhist. Liberal. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:47:01 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Pierre http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/comment-page-1/#comment-117736 John Pierre Tue, 29 May 2007 16:09:16 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/#comment-117736 Coming out in a religious family is incredibly difficult. My mother and father hold their religious views very close to their hearts, and having their only son "come out" gay hasn't made things much easier. Fortunately, they love me more than religious dogma, so I haven't been excommunicated from the family. Although I feel that more pointless lecturing is on the way as my sexuality becomes more prominent. It is very unfortunate that people are so intolerant and hostile toward these youth, especially when they need nothing more than to be understood and consoled. I recently sat with a friend who had come over with his family. There was a young kid there, maybe six years old, who was cheering like a cheerleader. The friend commented that the boy would definitely turn out gay, then promptly went on to say that if his son ever turned gay, he would "beat the gayness out of him". Needless to say, I was pissed, but found myself in a box, unable to respond as I wanted to. Something does need to be done to address this issue, even if it's simply promoting awareness. Discrimination of any sort should not be tolerated, especially when (in this case) it often leads to homelessness, or an even worse "alternative", suicide. This post has been a great read. Coming out in a religious family is incredibly difficult. My mother and father hold their religious views very close to their hearts, and having their only son “come out” gay hasn’t made things much easier. Fortunately, they love me more than religious dogma, so I haven’t been excommunicated from the family. Although I feel that more pointless lecturing is on the way as my sexuality becomes more prominent.

It is very unfortunate that people are so intolerant and hostile toward these youth, especially when they need nothing more than to be understood and consoled. I recently sat with a friend who had come over with his family. There was a young kid there, maybe six years old, who was cheering like a cheerleader. The friend commented that the boy would definitely turn out gay, then promptly went on to say that if his son ever turned gay, he would “beat the gayness out of him”. Needless to say, I was pissed, but found myself in a box, unable to respond as I wanted to.

Something does need to be done to address this issue, even if it’s simply promoting awareness. Discrimination of any sort should not be tolerated, especially when (in this case) it often leads to homelessness, or an even worse “alternative”, suicide. This post has been a great read.

]]> By: terrance http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/comment-page-1/#comment-116568 terrance Mon, 28 May 2007 03:51:25 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/#comment-116568 Unfortunately, I think in some cases there is no amount of education that will help. In the third video, a young woman talks about her religious upbringing and her parents religion-influenced reaction when she came out to them, complete with bible verses. My guess is that more than a few of these kids come from deeply religious families. Those parents will probably not change their minds,no matter what information they're presented with if they are from the "God said it. I believe it. That settles it," school of thought. Faith, in that case, overrides reason and/or evidence. Some of these kids were thrown out, but some also ran away because they're parents made home unbearable for them. Unfortunately, I think in some cases there is no amount of education that will help. In the third video, a young woman talks about her religious upbringing and her parents religion-influenced reaction when she came out to them, complete with bible verses.

My guess is that more than a few of these kids come from deeply religious families. Those parents will probably not change their minds,no matter what information they’re presented with if they are from the “God said it. I believe it. That settles it,” school of thought. Faith, in that case, overrides reason and/or evidence.

Some of these kids were thrown out, but some also ran away because they’re parents made home unbearable for them.

]]> By: Bernie http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/comment-page-1/#comment-116556 Bernie Mon, 28 May 2007 02:47:37 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/#comment-116556 What irks me more than anything is this issue of parents just kicking their kids out because they are gay or lesbian. If a parent beats a child or fails to feed or clothe them, they can be charged with parental neglect and face criminal or civil penalties. Why then are parents allowed to abandon their underage lesbian and gay kids with no repercussions? Such parents need education and enlightenment so they will stop trying to force their lesbian and gay kids to be someone they can never be, and learn how to love them unconditionally. What irks me more than anything is this issue of parents just kicking their kids out because they are gay or lesbian.

If a parent beats a child or fails to feed or clothe them, they can be charged with parental neglect and face criminal or civil penalties. Why then are parents allowed to abandon their underage lesbian and gay kids with no repercussions?

Such parents need education and enlightenment so they will stop trying to force their lesbian and gay kids to be someone they can never be, and learn how to love them unconditionally.

]]> By: Yondalla http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/comment-page-1/#comment-116528 Yondalla Mon, 28 May 2007 00:50:20 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/#comment-116528 It feels so sur-real to be reading this at this moment. We just took all the boys out to pizza to celebrate the youngest's birthday. The older two are gay and came to us from foster care. (We've parented three gay boys from foster care). I was worrying about the fact that we have had an empty bedroom for six months. If it is because all the kids are safe, that's fine. But it is hard to believe that my very red state that's the case. The older boys were reassuring me -- it's better now. Kids get support from their friends; social workers are all cool; foster parents "know better than to make a big deal about it." My most recent call to the PFLAG cell phone was from a woman I had to hold back. She doesn't understand why her fourteen-year-old son has only come out to a few people. She wants him to go to the LGBTQ youth group, should she make him go? Can I introduce him to gay men who could be good role models for him? Why doesn't he appreciate that he has a supportive mom? (Answers: No. Yes. He does, but he's fourteen.) So like I said, it's surreal. I just spent a couple hours being reassured and then read this. I don't disbelieve it, but I had thought it was getting better. At least a little. It feels so sur-real to be reading this at this moment. We just took all the boys out to pizza to celebrate the youngest’s birthday. The older two are gay and came to us from foster care. (We’ve parented three gay boys from foster care). I was worrying about the fact that we have had an empty bedroom for six months. If it is because all the kids are safe, that’s fine. But it is hard to believe that my very red state that’s the case. The older boys were reassuring me — it’s better now. Kids get support from their friends; social workers are all cool; foster parents “know better than to make a big deal about it.”

My most recent call to the PFLAG cell phone was from a woman I had to hold back. She doesn’t understand why her fourteen-year-old son has only come out to a few people. She wants him to go to the LGBTQ youth group, should she make him go? Can I introduce him to gay men who could be good role models for him? Why doesn’t he appreciate that he has a supportive mom? (Answers: No. Yes. He does, but he’s fourteen.)

So like I said, it’s surreal. I just spent a couple hours being reassured and then read this.

I don’t disbelieve it, but I had thought it was getting better.

At least a little.

]]> By: Villager http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/comment-page-1/#comment-116501 Villager Sun, 27 May 2007 23:51:21 +0000 http://www.republicoft.com/2007/05/27/homelessness-gay-youth/#comment-116501 T --> this is a subject area that I've never read about before. I appreciate you taking the time to share it with us. I regularly remind myself and others that we are usually only "one or two missed paychecks from being homeless ourselves". Happy Memorial Day! Villager T –> this is a subject area that I’ve never read about before. I appreciate you taking the time to share it with us. I regularly remind myself and others that we are usually only “one or two missed paychecks from being homeless ourselves”.

Happy Memorial Day!
Villager

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