Home or Sexuality

by Ellen Huang

The ambiguity of questioning your own identity can be a harrowing place—even more so if your safety and housing depends on it. Many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning teenagers face this risk growing up in conservative homes. In these situations, some families may disown the teens and kick them out for confessing their sexual orientation or gender identity. As much as 40 percent of the homeless in the United States, as well as in San Diego, are rejected LGBTQ youth. Regardless of your stance on homosexuality or transgender issues, disowning youth for talking about their identity is a cruel move.

An abusive home environment and fear of repercussions is enough to drive a LGBTQ teen to a homeless existence. And in some cases, in exchange for food and shelter to survive, these vulnerable teens risk prostitution and experience traumatic harm.

In San Diego, The Center is here to receive and support these youths. Founded in 1971, The Center is a space dedicated to helping the LGBTQ community in as many ways as possible, from hosting athletic marathons to fundraise to end HIV, to providing counseling for people of different family dynamics, to housing homeless LGBTQ youths.

“Each year over 300,000 LGBT youth experience at least one night of homelessness in the United States, and 20 to 40 percent of the homeless youth in America’s urban cities identify as LGBT,” says chief operating officer Beth Barnes in an interview with Voice of San Diego. Homelessness remains a pressing problem, but many vulnerable youth feel they must choose between being known truthfully and being given shelter; between being known and being loved.

The Center offers a safe haven to fight this problem: the Sunburst Youth Housing Project. Open since 2006, this program offers 23 units of sustainable housing for youth between 18- 24 years old, focused on caring for disowned LGBTQ and HIV-affected youth.

“The majority of our Youth Housing Project residents come to us directly from the streets, having lived in cars, parks, canyons or abandoned buildings throughout San Diego County,” Barnes tells Voice of San Diego. This program saves lives and futures, restoring the lost young adults into a life of more stability, dignity, and hope. “Over 80 percent of residents leave for a permanent living situation and 60 percent of our residents are employed despite the current economic conditions.”

The Center also believes in not just surviving, but flourishing: enjoying oneself and a community again. So they provide multiple recreational events from movie nights to discussion/support groups. They host an annual biking marathon to fundraise for providing safe sex kits, medical care and an end to HIV. In this way, while persisting toward a cure, youth also can have less fear in taking part in sexual activity.

As of 2016, The Center has opened up an LGBT-friendly affordable housing program for senior citizens as well, in contrast to their generation’s earlier years when “LGBT-friendly” was unheard of.

There’s also the new Hillcrest Youth Center, a recreational center for youth between ages of 14-18, with special hours on Tuesdays for youth ages 10-13. There, one can find plenty of helpful life skill resources, financial education, HIV prevention education, youth leadership training, creative and performing arts and more.

Another resource combating homelessness for the LGBTQ community involves a bit of faith. Executive director of San Diego Pride, Fernando Lopez, had personally lived through the hardship of homelessness because of his identity. Now that he’s in a better place, he’s working with the Interfaith Shelter Network to make churches a safe place and even a shelter for LGBTQ youth.

“Faith has all too often been used as a weapon against our community, but so too has it been used as a shield and shelter for us,” Lopez says. “In San Diego, there are over 90 open and affirming congregations (and their numbers are growing) that have stood at the front lines of the LGBTQ fight for justice.” Now Lopez pushes for the power of combining religious spaces with action to solve the homelessness problem. “With the goal of providing stability and safety for members of our community who are experiencing homelessness, Pride is proud to partner with Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s office and with the Interfaith Shelter Network to create new LGBTQ-affirming spaces.”

Storefront is another resource available for LGBTQ youth who don’t know where they’ll sleep at night. According to San Diego Gay & Lesbian News, San Diego Youth Services can refer young people to Storefront for emergencies. Those who need shelter can turn to Storefront, which is affiliated with San Diego Youth Services. Storefront provides mental health services, shelter and necessities for youth who have nowhere else to go for the night, often because of a dangerous home environment.

There is a long way to go to end prejudice, and even more broadly, to end homelessness. However, these resources are a beacon of hope

and celebration of life in the midst of darkness.