LGBTQ youth, particularly those of color, face discrimination.
Nearly 40% of incarcerated girls identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and 85-90% of incarcerated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are youth of color. Overall, the percentage of incarcerated LGBTQ youth is double that of the general LGBTQ youth population.
These statistics are alarming. We know that homelessness can act as a pipeline to incarceration, and vice-versa – but how can we change that?
We’re proud to say that we recently helped develop a new report that examines the experiences of LGBTQ youth in the juvenile justice system. Authored by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), the Center for American Progress, and Youth First, Unjust: LGBTQ Youth Incarcerated in the Juvenile Justice System is a crucial installment in MAP’s Unjust series, which explores the unique struggles faced by LGBT folks in the criminal justice system and highlights innovative solutions from around the country.
Let’s take a deeper look…
Still resilient.
Despite the challenges they face, LGBTQ youth show incredible signs of resiliency. Many create families of choice, develop their own support networks, and not only survive, but thrive.
If you’d like to learn more, check out the full report here. If you want to get involved, sign up for our email list to keep up to date on the latest news and opportunities.