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Violet Thomas came out as a transgender woman three months before high school graduation in 2013. She found some respite in her guidance counselor’s office, but things went from bad to worse at home.
Homeless trans youths may trade sex for a bed because they view traditional shelter programs as inaccessible or worse. Advocates and activists can’t help what they can’t see, and youths who
are homeless are vulnerable
For LGBT youth -- especially for trans youth -- not only are they worried about how other kids will treat them, they’re worried that the staff won’t protect them, and in fact, may be the perpetrators. Often LGBT youth won’t use the services that exist because they’re not safe.”
Treating vulnerable youths differently because of their orientation or gender identification is illegal, but, says Stacey Violante Cote, director of the Teen Legal Advocacy Project at the Center for Children’s Advocacy . . .