Sociology Essay on the Plight of Homeless LGBTQ Youth in America

This essay delves into the critical issue of homeless LGBTQ youth in America, exploring the various factors that contribute to their vulnerability and the challenges they face. It highlights the disproportionate impact of homelessness on this demographic, examining the reasons behind their displacement, including family rejection, financial instability, and mental health issues. The essay discusses the harsh realities of life on the streets, including increased risks of violence, exploitation, substance abuse, and health problems. Furthermore, it analyzes the social and psychological impact of homelessness on LGBTQ youth, addressing issues such as school difficulties, mental health concerns, and interactions with the legal system. The essay draws on research and statistics to illustrate the severity of the problem and emphasizes the need for support systems and resources to help these vulnerable young people. The essay concludes by underscoring the importance of safe spaces, social acceptance, and interventions to mitigate the issues and improve the lives of homeless LGBTQ youth.

Running Head: ESSAY ON HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH IN AMERICA
Essay on Homeless LGBTQ Youth in America
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1ESSAY ON HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH IN AMERICA
"I'm gay." "I'm cross-sexual." "I'm in an inappropriate body." A solitary sentence,
similar to any of the first three, is everything necessary for somebody's reality to change. At
the point when a kid or a high schooler understands that the individual in question isn't
hetero, as usually assumed, and comes out to their legitimate watchman, family, or
companions, the minute is exceptional. It is typically a long-awaited help to at last show the
world one's actual self.
Be that as it may, for a few, this alleviation may include some significant pitfalls. One
extreme, but normal, the repercussion is vagrancy. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender,
Queer (LGBTQ) youth become homeless for an assortment of reasons, yet the most normally
revealed reason is that young is kicked out4 of their homes subsequent to uncovering their
sexual direction to their family members. Studies have discovered that up to roughly 20% of
youth venture out from home on the grounds that their relatives object to or are awkward with
their sexual orientation. This regularly implies guardians or watchmen of LGBT youth treat
them so that they believe they have no other decision yet to leave their homes. Some LGBT
youth even flee from home without having unveiled their sexual direction to their families so
as to maintain a strategic distance from the pressure and dread of dismissal, or more
regrettable, removal. In any case, others, who may not be living with the family at the
opportunity they come out to them, are monetarily cut off and overlooked, which can
likewise bring about vagrancy.
At last, substance misuse, physical maltreatment, sexual maltreatment, psychological
wellness issues, early improvement of sexual orientation, family destitution, maturing out of
the child care or adolescent equity systems, and money related or passionate disregard from
relatives, are additionally regular reasons why LGBT youth may get destitute. Moreover,
since numerous destitute adolescents are constrained out of their homes, they are frequently
unaccompanied, which means they live in the city or in destitute sanctuaries without the

2ESSAY ON HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH IN AMERICA
nearness of a grown-up. As of now, LGBT youth are lopsidedly affected by vagrancy
contrasted with the national level of youth vagrancy and contrasted with the national level of
LGBT youth.14 To delineate, ongoing investigations gauge that 1.6 million youngsters and
youth (ages 12-17) are destitute every year without a going with parent or guardian. It is
evaluated that 5%-10% of all adolescent right now as LGBT; on the other hand, 20%-40% of
destitute youth distinguished as LGBT. If the rates appear to be low, remember that the
numbers are probably going to be under-delegate of the genuine LGBT level of destitute
youth in the nation because of testing predisposition and underreporting, implying the
probability of much more LGBT youth living in the city than at present detailed.
Furthermore, the reality remains that LGBT youth flee from home more as often more
possible than hetero youth which may likewise add to the present rates.
There is no doubt that the wonder of LGBT vagrancy has been generally talked about.
Government organizations have even distributed discoveries on vagrancy that in particular,
single out LGBT youth as "speaking to a bigger extent when contrasted with the general
populace" of destitute youth. Life as a destitute youth, paying little mind to sexual direction,
is very troublesome. Youth are at an age where less supervision is required, the requirement
for social acknowledgement and endorsement is high, there is a higher probability of
companion influence, or more all, and the sentiment of being developed is across the board.
Being developed is the point at which a youngster or youth accepts the person is mature
enough to settle on their own choices since the individual in question feels like a grown-up —
"an adult"— despite the fact that the individual is legitimately still a juvenile. In this manner,
notwithstanding craving to get away from provocation and ridicule, youth may likewise leave
the encourage framework and attempt to make due all alone in light of the fact that they
believe they are mature enough to do as such. However, numerous who have chosen to
attempt to make it all alone before long understand that adulthood, if not only an inclination,

3ESSAY ON HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH IN AMERICA
includes some significant downfalls. Destitute LGBT individuals have a high danger of
capitulating to extraordinary endurance techniques. For example, some are compelled to
sexual endeavors to accommodate their fundamental needs of nourishment and safe house.
Destitute LGBT youth likewise experience provocation, exploitation, and disparagement.
Normally, LGBT youth are bothered by their friends, families, and different grown-ups in
view of their sexual direction or sex personality. Destitute LGBT youth are likewise more
seriously deceived contrasted with destitute straight youth. Accordingly, they experience
more issues with rape, physical maltreatment, and psychological wellness issues contrasted
with hetero youth. Numerous LGBT young people likewise dread rejection and detachment
in their gathering homes and by peers busy working or school due to their sexual orientation.
Because of these feelings of trepidation, LGBT youth have more school-related issues like
battles, less than stellar scores, and high dropout rates. This causes added pressure which can
prompt undesirable ways of dealing with stress. As referenced, destitute LGBT has a higher
inclination to have run-ins with the law, consume medications and drink liquor too much, go
to prostitution, contract HIV, and end it all contrasted with their hetero peers.
To represent, LGBT youth have detailed utilizing more medications, more frequently
than hetero youth. Studies show that LGBT destitute youth 13 to 21 years are almost certain
than non-LGBT destitute youth to utilize cocaine, split, or methamphetamines. They
additionally display psychological well-being issues like wretchedness and psychopathy at
higher rates than hetero youth. 53% of LGBT destitute youth and road youth have
endeavoured suicide. At long last, STDs are higher among LGBT youth since they will, in
general, engage in sexual relations at prior ages, have increasingly unprotected sex, and have
more accomplices contrasted with hetero youth.

4ESSAY ON HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH IN AMERICA
Work Cited
Coolhart, Deborah, and Maria T. Brown. "The need for safe spaces: Exploring the
experiences of homeless LGBTQ youth in shelters." Children and Youth Services Review 82
(2017): 230-238.
Jones, Angela, Joseph Nicholas DeFilippis, and Michael W. Yarbrough. "“I want to be happy
in life”: success, failure, and addressing LGBTQ youth homelessness." The Unfinished Queer
Agenda After Marriage Equality. Routledge, 2018. 133-145.
Morton, M. H., et al. "Missed opportunities: LGBTQ youth homelessness in
America." Chicago, IL: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (2018).
Grainger, Jesse L., and Brent E. Cagle. "LGBTQ Emerging Adults: Their Experiences with
Homelessness." The Winthrop McNair Research Bulletin 2.1 (2016): 5.
Page, Michelle. "Forgotten youth: Homeless LGBT youth of color and the Runaway and
Homeless Youth Act." Northwestern Journal of Law & Social Policy 12.2 (2017): 17.