What I will share are two simple statistics that are revolting. In LA 25-35% of homeless teens are LGBT. The reason they are homeless is that they have been thrown out of their homes, and disowned by those whose job it was to protect them and care for them unconditionally. Keep in mind this is an LA number, an area of the country seen as more tolerant.
An estimate in NYC places the number between 25-40%. Again this seen as a more progressive and tolerant area. Again these kids are homeless because they have been rejected by their families. Now imagine the level of tolerance in a place like North Carolina.
I have no closing words of comfort or some clever encompassing argument. Please click the image above for more.
Please feel free to comment below....
Great post, it really hurt to read it.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say “Thank You” to everyone for letting me be included in your Hop Against Homophobia. I am afraid I am not a talented m/m fiction writer like yourself but I am an avid reader of it.
Actually when you are a straight girl who writes gay porn for an adult studio it is hard to fit in anywhere so I really appreciated how warmly I was welcomed into your group.
http://shadowsterling.blogspot.com/2012/04/studio-i-write-for.html
But this is a cause I feel strongly about and I wanted to let you know I appreciate the opportunity to be included.
Don't be afraid you are not someone else,
Deleteyou are not your gender or sexuality but the some of your actions.
Never apologize for being you.
M.R.
I appreciate your initial reluctance to join. Thank you for discussing that statistic and lending your voice to this issue.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for participating in the hop. I hope that this helps to spread the word and that one day a hop like this will no longer be needed. I have shown many of the post to my nieces and nephews. We recently have been discussing how damaging bullying is and how innocent remarks can make you be seen as being a bully. One of the things that makes me mad is when I hear...you're so gay... pisses me off. These post have helped them already. I heard my nephew stand up to someone that called someone else a hurtful name... I was so proud. Thank you all for helping by sharing hurtful and/sad memories and your personal views/message.
ReplyDeleteI pray one day for equality for EVERYONE not just some.
forettarose@yahoo.com
Thanks for participating for this wonderful cause of awareness…I teach high schoolers and this is a topic that we discuss at length. I just want them to be aware and know that they have the power to change the world!
ReplyDeleteYvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
I cannot ever wrap my head around the idea parents throw away their children because of sexual orientation. They are a disgrace to themselves and to society. Parents are supposed to love and protect their own.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the statistics.
First, this hop was never about trying to sell books. There were some voices saying so, but it was never the intention. We wanted to give something back to the community we're writing about and I believe we have done great. Just read the blog posts and you'll see that this isn't about advertising books. The point of offering prizes is to draw people in.
ReplyDeleteSecond, thank you for taking part :) Thanks for the statistics, they're staggering. I'm a mother of two boys and I could never throw them out, no matter what they did or who they are. They're my children and I love them unconditionally. I wish everyone felt the same about their children.
I have seen the comments that some people have made regarding the blog hop being a marketing ploy. I disagree.
ReplyDeleteThere are many participants in the hop who are reviewers, not authors. They will get nothing by way of sales from their participation.
Others are offering prizes that are not their own books - eg the It Gets Better book.
Others (myself included) are using the hop to raise funds for various causes. I am donating $1 for each comment on my blog post to It Gets Better and donating a copy of the book to a school or library of the winner's choice.
Many are sharing personal stories which are heartbreaking in their honesty.
The only thing we all have in common is the wish to raise awareness and I hope that any doubters out there are ready to swallow their words and change their opinion on the purpose of this hop.