By Sarah Fletcher, CFTH Intern and Kate Budd
Marsha P. Johnson, a trans-rights activist who shared,
“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
CFTH celebrates and acknowledges June as National Pride month. Across the nation and locally the LGBTQ+ community is disproportionately affected by homelessness, particularly among LGBTQ+ persons of color and youth age 16-24. Pride month is an opportunity to reflect on where we have been and where we need to go equitably serve the LGBTQ+ community members experiencing homelessness.
June marks the 50th Anniversary of LGBTQ+ Pride festivities in the United States, with the first Pride occurring in NYC in 1970 in honor of the 1969 Stonewall riots that sparked activism and the gay rights movement.
It was not until 1980, 11 years later, that the NY Supreme Court legalized private consensual same-sex sexual activity. And it took yet another 35 years in 2015, for same-sex marriage to be legalized in all fifty states.
Council for the Homeless is honored to provide housing stability programs that specifically walk alongside families with at least one person of color and/or person that identifies as LGBT. Our Family Assistance Community Engagement (FACE) program is one of those programs providing culturally responsive support in partnership with many local organizations, including LCRG, YWCA Clark County and NAACP. This 2019 article from The Columbian highlights personal experiences within the program and its strong successes.
For many program participants homelessness is rooted in racism, homophobia, transphobia and oppression. Systemic oppression makes it extremely difficult to exit homelessness and remain stable in housing. We strive to provide inclusive services to diverse populations and support efforts to end systemic racism, homophobia and transphobia locally and beyond.
Resources and Opportunities for Education
Queer Youth Resource Center (Vancouver)
Q Center – Includes Information and Referral (Portland)
Social and Support Groups in Portland – GayPDX
True Colors United to End Youth Homelessness
Center for Black Equity: Improving the Lives of Black LGBT People Globally