Content categorized as LGBTQ

Local nonprofit opens transitional housing to meet growing demand among LGBTQ youth

SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) recently opened its third facility to help meet the transitional housing needs of local LGTBQ youth.

A few notes on respect: How to ensure you’re treating a trans person with dignity

Phoenix Oaks, a vendor with Street Roots in Portland, Oregon, offers guidance on how to properly interact with transgender community members to better ensure everyone has basic respect.

When trans and non-binary people age out of homeless services, there’s nowhere to turn

Transgender people in the United States face barriers in many aspects of their lives, from job discrimination to family rejection. While LGBTQ-focused youth programs and housing assistance is growing nationally and in the District, transgender adults are being left behind after aging out of the system in their mid-twenties.

SMYAL expands services for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness

SMYAL, known as Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders, is launching a third Extended Transitional Housing program this spring for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness that will provide residents with up to six years of mental health support, shelter and employment assistance.

Confessions I, Part 1: I’ve Paid for Sex

In this series, Taylor reflects on paying for sex as a self-described “semi-closeted gay male.”

Homeless people in quarantine face poor conditions, rudeness, and transphobia

Shelter residents are sent to DHS’s isolation sites when exposed to COVID-19. But some report mistreatment and transphobia by staff and security guards.

Alice Carter study is an admirable and monumental effort that falls short

Artist and vendor Jeff Taylor critiques the case study written by Street Sense Media about the life and death of Alice Carter, who he knew and lived with.

DC is cutting funding for homeless services as COVID cases surge

Local nonprofits say the cuts will make it harder for them to serve homeless youth amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Black & Indigenous Transgender Safehaus shows the need for inclusive housing programs

Casa BITS provides short-term housing and community for Black, Indigenous, People of Color trangender and intersex D.C. residents.

Lawsuit alleges anti-trans discrimination in a private DC shelter

A transgender man is suing the National United Methodist Church and Friendship Place, alleging that they discriminated against him for being transgender.

At SMYAL’s Youth House, LGBTQ+ youth are provided with housing and affirmation

SMYAL provides economic and housing support during the pandemic through a housing program for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness.

New HUD rule could allow anti-trans discrimination in shelters

Homeless shelters that receive federal funding will be allowed to consider an individual’s sex and gender identity when deciding on accommodations, thanks to a June 12th rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A Woman’s Pain

Artist and vendor Ronald Dudley shares the perspective of a woman’s pain.

Honoring Baby Alice

Human Rights Campaign staffer Tori Cooper writes about late artist and vendor Alice Cooper and what we can do for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness.

Alice Carter, poet and performer, dies at 35

Street Sense Media vendor and artist Alice Carter tragically passed away on December 18, 2019.

Housing program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth to open a brand new 14-bed house

In January 2017, the local nonprofit SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) launched its signature youth house, a 2-year, 12-bed transitional living program for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the D. C. metropolitan area. This July, the organization received a contract to create a second house, which is set to open its doors before the summer ends.

This is one of the few places homeless youth are welcome regardless of sexual orientation or gender pronoun

Casa Ruby offers a variety of services to members of the LGBTQ community regardless of housing or immigration status

D.C. Council stands up to Trump Administration’s attempt to eliminate LGBTQ health data collection

D.C. local government agrees upon LGBTQ health data collection, in opposition to Trump Administration’s attempt to eliminate it.

As living with HIV becomes more common, affordable housing remains out of reach for many seniors

As treatment for HIV has improved over the years, federal funding dedicated to housing for HIV-positive people has not. Service providers are struggling to help new people in need as others continue to age and housing costs skyrocket.

Hospice for homeless people celebrates life with #DragBrunch

On September 16, a hospice for homeless people with late stage HIV/AIDS called Joseph’s House held a drag show in Adams Morgan. Drag queens performed and community members gathered around to celebrate their community.