26% of LGBTQ+ youth are rejected by their family and forced to leave their homes after coming out.

LGBTQ+ youth in congregate or foster care face unique challenges in accessing supportive, culturally competent services, as well as in achieving permanent placements with affirming families. Many of these youth have experienced rejection or abuse from their family of origin because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Far too many then face harassment or discrimination in congregate care, foster homes, and from their direct service providers. One study found that 78% of LGBTQ+ youth were removed or ran away from their foster care placements due to hostility toward their LGBTQ+ status (Feinstein et al., 2001). That same study found that 100% reported verbal harassment in group homes, with 70 % reporting physical violence. Given this reality, LGBTQ+ youth may not disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity for fear of being mistreated or losing an opportunity for a placement. LGBTQ+ youth often face longer periods in temporary care and multiple disruptions when resource families are not prepared to provide support.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has led to shelter-in-place and lockdown orders across the country, with no clear end in sight. Many queer young adults are being thrust back into homes that are not affirming or actively dangerous, and remain away from their found families and networks on college campuses or at school." -- Pallas Gutierrez, GLAAD Campus Ambassador.

During these months of unprecedented shelter-in-place, lockdown orders, and social distancing, LGBTQ+ children and youth can face a scary existence in homes that are unsupportive and in some cases, openly hostile to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Without the eyes of teachers, neighbors, and other mandatory reporters being watchful for indications of abuse and neglect, such cases of abuse and neglect of LGBTQ+ kids will go unreported.

KYLP has been accepting appointments from family courts in Central Kentucky to represent the unique and sometimes difficult needs of LGBTQ+ children and youth in out-of-home care. Recently, we have entered into a partnership with the University of Kentucky School of Nursing to supervise advanced nursing student interns. We have been assigned two interns in the Spring 2021 semester: a Pediatric Nurse and a Surgical Nurse. We are assigning them to develop LGBTQ+ friendly assessment tools and then use those tools to assess our clients in order to make recommendations to the Court regarding their medical and mental health needs. We are really excited about this program because it will enable us to serve our clients more effectively and advise the Court and their caregivers about how to address their needs.

But there is always a greater need for our services than our current capacity will sustain. Your donation of $25, $50, $100, or whatever amount will help fund our outreach to family and juvenile courts, child protection workers and congregate care facilities, making it possible for us to have a greater impact on the lives and safety of LGBTQ+ children and youth throughout Kentucky.

Please consider making a donation to KYLP today.

Keith D. Elston

KYLP Legal Director

P.S. Please consider becoming a KYLP Sustainer. Your recurring monthly, quarterly, or semi-annual gift allows you to maximize the impact of your donation by spreading it out over the course of a year.