Housing is a Human Right

Let’s get one thing straight: LGBTQ+ youth are not & housing is a human right.

Unfortunately, queer youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their heterosexual peers (True Colors United). But people from all over the world are working to end that. Today is #TrueColorsDay – a day dedicated to preventing and ending LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. 

Camp Lightbulb fully supports today’s efforts to improve the wellbeing and safety of queer youth. We join global advocates in their commitment to taking necessary action to defend the human rights of LGBTQ+ youth.

Here is the pledge we have taken:

• Housing is a human right.

• Everyone deserves a safe place to call home – regardless of their class, race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation.

• LGBTQ+ youth should never have to fear discrimination or violence in seeking housing or services.

• To end homelessness, we must end systemic racism in housing, healthcare, and policing – which contribute to higher rates of homelessness for Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth.

• Immigrants and asylum-seekers – many of whom are LGBTQ+ and fleeing persecution – deserve a safe home.

• Relief and resources for youth experiencing homelessness must be included in COVID-19 responses.

• Young people are the present and future leaders of the youth homelessness movement. Nonprofit organizations should support and facilitate youth activism.

All queer youth deserve a safe and affirming space to live. Once again, they are leading this movement to ensure equity across all marginalized groups. Nonetheless, this is a global issue, and change happens when we can come together to create a better world. 

If you have not already, we encourage you to take this pledge! Beyond that, we encourage you to support True Colors United, a nonprofit which “implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ young people.”

Written by Gina Kanegawa on April 28, 2021