Looking back at 2013

FORTY TO NONE NETWORK

At the end of the year, we launched the Forty to None Network, a collective of individuals who are working
to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness, or whose work has the potential to impact the issue.

FEDERAL ADVOCACY

We played a key role in drafting and introducing legislation that would add protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth when the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act is reauthorized.

‘STATE OF OUT YOUTH’ FORUM

In the fall, we facilitated State of Out Youth: A Town Hall, a panel discussion with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally youth from across the country about the most pressing issues facing them today. Nearly 400 people attended and hundreds more viewed it online!

CAMP TRUE COLORS

Last summer, the Forty to None
Project partnered with One Heartland to hold the first Camp True Colors for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth in out of home care in New York City. The week-long camp provides young people with an
atmosphere of acceptance and a week of education and fun to help address issues facing their community and their future. In 2013, we launched two more camps; one in Minnesota and one in Texas.

YOUTH COUNTS

This past January, we provided vital guidance and assistance in ensuring that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth were properly included in the recent pilot count of homeless youth in nine communities, which was coordinated by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, Department of Health & Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Education.

NEW STAFF

Jama Shelton, LMSW, PhD joined the True Colors Fund in March as the organization’s Forty to None Project Director. The position is the first of its kind on a national level!

Learn more about Jama.

RESEARCH & REPORTS

In partnership with The Palette Fund and the Williams Institute at UCLA, the Forty to None Project released Serving Our Youth, a comprehensive report about the level of services available to gay and transgender homeless youth based on findings from a national survey we conducted of youth service providers across the country. We distributed a new survey in late 2013 and will update this report every other year.

YOU UP’ PROGRAM

We partnered with Broadway’s Kinky Boots to create a youth program that empowers homeless and at-risk youth in NYC and around the country to learn about and immerse themselves into the career opportunities that
exist in the theatre industry. The ‘Raise You Up’ Community Youth Program provides young people with a holistic day of shadowing professionals in all areas of the theatre world.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

In 2013, we presented at numerous conferences across the country and provided training on the issue of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trangender youth homelessness. In addition,
our ongoing blogs with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and The Huffington Post provide up to date information about efforts to address the issue and action steps for getting involved.