What is #TrueColorsDay?
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. While many factors contribute to LGBTQ youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason.
To end LGBTQ youth homelessness, we need to understand the issue and the ways in which we can all play a role in ending it. That's why we launched #TrueColorsDay, an international day to raise public awareness about LGBTQ youth homelessness, and to provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference. We also host live conversations online about the issue and what everyday people are doing to end it!
Who's Behind It?
Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper in 2008, True Colors United works to end youth homelessness by generating solutions that meet the unique needs of LGBTQ young people. Our philosophy is that if we can ensure that services are safe for and affirming of the most impacted young people, we can be confident that they’ll be safe and affirming for everyone.
You might remember our old name: the True Colors Fund. Our new name – True Colors United – is all about celebrating the different strengths that different people bring to the table, and applying those strengths toward one united goal: preventing and ending youth homelessness.
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Spread The Word
Our voices are louder when we speak out together. Let your friends and family know about #TrueColorsDay and multiply your impact.
TWEET ABOUT IT
Post an Unselfie
Snap a photo with one of our “unselfie” signs and share it online with the hashtag #TrueColorsDay. Let's flood the Internet with these images to raise awareness and show the world that everyone can make a difference.
GET MY SIGNJust Released!
At the Intersections
A Collaborative Resource on LGBTQ Youth Homelessness
2019 Edition
Live Broadcast Agenda
WATCH ON FACEBOOKTakeoff! 🚀
12:00pm - 12:15pm ET
Join True Colors United’s Coco Wheeler, MSW and Rivianna Hyatt as we kick off #TrueColorsDay and announce a brand new resource on LGBTQ youth homelessness.
Let’s Get In-Formation 👯
12:30pm - 12:50pm ET
Right now, young people are leading, shaping, and revolutionizing the movement to end youth homelessness. Join Ziggy Keyes of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness and True Colors United’s Kahlib Barton and Rivianna Hyatt for a convo on how to make youth collaboration happen.
Bringing the House Down 💃🏿
1:00pm - 1:20pm ET
Families aren’t always related by blood. Join members of the House of Garçon – Phoebe Van Cleefe, Jonathan Lykes, and Kahlib Barton – for a conversation about chosen families, the house and ballroom community, and how art and activism can overlap.
Pathway to Protopia 💫
1:30pm - 1:50pm ET
Close your eyes and imagine the future. What do you see? Maddox Guerilla, 2018 True Colors Fellow, and Marc Dones, Executive Director of the National Innovation Service, will stop by to chat about their visions for creating equitable, collaborative, and democratic communities.
Squad Goals ✌🏽
2:00pm - 2:20pm ET
Meet the nerds behind True Colors United! We’re serious about ending youth homelessness - but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Tune in for a quick round of staff speed “friending” and get the inside scoop on who we are and why we do this work.
Spring Into Action 🏳️🌈
2:30pm - 2:35pm ET
That’s a wrap for the livestream – but #TrueColorsDay continues till midnight! If you haven’t yet, now’s the time to post those unselfies, spread the word, and learn more about LGBTQ youth homelessness. Together, we can and will end homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
Our Partners
ACLU
Advocates for Youth
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS United
Amazin LeThi Foundation
Athlete Ally
Avenues for Homeless Youth
A Way Home America
Beta Gamma Chi Fraternity Incorporated
BLACC
Black, Gifted & Whole Foundation
Blu's PodCast- NPG Underground Radio
California Homeless Youth Project
Covenant House New York
Can't Stop! Won't Stop! Consulting
CDG Community
Center for American Progress
Center for Black Equity
CenterLink
Ceres Policy Research
Coalition for Homeless Youth
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County
Community Alliance for the Homeless
Community Alliance for the Homeless
Compass LGBTQ Community Center
Daybreak Inc.
DIAL/SELF Youth & Community Services
Equality North Carolina
Family Resources, Inc.
Funders Together to End Homelessness
Gotham Cheer
Happy Hippie Foundation
Henry Ford College
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Impulse Group DC
Kirrin Finch
Lambda Legal
Larkin street Youth Services
LifeWorks at The LA LGBT Center
LifeWorks Los Angeles LGBT Center
Love heals
MASSPIRG UMass Lowell Chapter
Meharry Community Wellness Center
Nashville Launch Pad
NLIHC
One Orlando Alliance
Our Children LA (OCLA)
Outlast Youth
OUTMemphis
Phi Pi Delta Co-ed Fraternity
Point Source Youth
Project Street Beat
Pup's Books
Raikes Foundation
Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
RESULTS
Safe Place For Youth
San Antonio Fighting Back, Inc
SchoolHouse Connection
SLAY TV
SMYAL
SparkAction
StandUp For Kids
TCC Group
The I Am Human Foundation
The National LGBTQ Task Force
The Simmons Foundation
TruEvolution
UCHAPS
UndocuBlack Network
Unified Performers
Urban Justice Center - Peter Cicchino Youth Project
Us Helping Us People into Living
VOCAL-NY
Whitman-Walker Health
WOCSHN - Women of Color Sexual Health Network
YouthCare
Youth Collaboratory
Youth Service Bureau of St. Joseph County