Today, the United States Senate voted XX-XX to pass the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA). The reauthorization includes a non-discrimination clause that will help ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth experiencing homelessness not only have access to critical services, but that those services are safe, welcoming, and tailored to meet their unique needs. Research continues to show that while LGBT youth make up just seven percent of the general youth population, they comprise 40 percent of the 1.6 million youth that are homeless in America each year.
The True Colors Fund strongly supports this Act, which would reauthorize programs to help young people obtain housing, education, and job training, and provide training to assist service providers in identifying victims of human trafficking.
“I applaud the members of the Senate for voting to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and for choosing to protect, rather than throw away, 40% of our nation’s homeless youth,” said Cyndi Lauper, Co-Founder of the True Colors Fund. “All kids deserve safe, welcoming, and affirming services that meet their specific needs – regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Today, we took a huge step forward to making that a reality.”
Read the full Press Release here, and celebrate this victory on Facebook and Twitter!
Nicolas Seip is the Program and Communications Associate at the True Colors Fund.