The Next Big Thing

Photo: Brion McCarthy Photography

There was an abundance of symbolism on the day the report from the Youth Equality Alliance (YEA) was released, which revealed that many LGBTQ youth in Maryland are facing difficult challenges including homelessness.  The unveiling of the report Living in the Margins  took place in Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Central Library where homeless individuals frequently enter to gain shelter.  It also occurred during the record-breaking deluge, which reminded people of the deplorable conditions the homeless must endure on days like that.

On that waterlogged August 12 morning, ten YEA coalition members and LGBTQ youth spoke passionately about the experiences of bullying, harassment, and discrimination that tend to lead to negative outcomes.

Most of us are aware that LGBTQ youth are bullied and tormented in school or online.  We have a sense that some parents kick their kids out of their homes when they find out their child is LGBTQ.   We realize that homeless children (as well as adults) are at great risk on numerous levels.  We recognize, too, that foster care is not a good solution to homelessness when the child is constantly discriminated against, bullied or abused. 

We know these problems exist; therefore, it’s time to finally turn our attention to the plight of our LGBTQ youth.  Aaron Merki, the executive director for the FreeState Legal Project, which is one of the founding members of the YEA coalition, agreed. “Although the Maryland LGBTQ community has recently secured several new rights, including marriage equality and the Fairness for All Marylanders Act, there is much work to be done to protect the rights of LGBTQ youth.”

Indeed, we’ve achieved goals in equality and transgender nondiscrimination that were seemingly unimaginable five years ago, and we are proud of that.  Those have been powerful, sexy issues that attracted generous contributions, volunteers and the work by elected officials to make it happen.  These matters were the subject of conversations from dinner parties in Bolton Hill and Silver Spring to the pews in Baltimore’s churches to the sands of Rehoboth Beach. 

“Are we ready to tackle the gritty, less glamorous task of helping our youth?  I hope so.”

They were historic, monumental achievements.  Are we ready to tackle the gritty, less glamorous task of helping our youth?  I hope so.  It’s time, and it’s the next big thing, although much work is still needed to ensure our safety, combat HIV/AIDS, address the needs of the burgeoning aging population and deal with other concerns. 

The YEA coalition, consisting of a number of advocacy groups and individuals, is searching for additional members to join in and participate in workgroups formed to implement the recommendations outlined in the report.  Many of these initiatives require policy, regulatory or legislative changes to help LGBTQ youth, and the process is expected to take several years. 

As YEA constructs the coalition, hopefully those joining will not simply lend their name as we have seen at times before, but rather they should roll up their sleeves and work.  And YEA should ensure accountability in that regard.

In the coming weeks, YEA will assign tasks to those best equipped to carry them out.  Much of the changes are political and enlisting the support of top elected officials is paramount to implementing the recommendations.  Our LGBT caucus in Annapolis, fresh off of the previous two big victories, would be helpful in championing this cause as well.

Photo: Brion McCarthy Photography

One recommendation, however, is a non-starter, in my judgment.  Under the section for Education, there is this: “Teach students about LGBTQ rights, issues and history in a K-12 curriculum.”

While that would be great, it will unlikely fly politically.  Those who opposed marriage equality will get on their soap boxes and say, “We told you that if gays were allowed to marry, the next step is teaching homosexuality in the schools.”  That’s how it would be painted no matter how noble and desirable the goal is.  I’m concerned that the whole effort to make changes in the Education piece could be derailed if this recommendation is included in the package.

Nonetheless, the other recommendations are ambitious and solid and could go a long way towards alleviating the misery experienced by LGBTQ youth.  The rest of us should get behind the effort by lobbying legislators and other officials, and at a minimum, raise awareness about problems facing our youth.  Moreover, the YEA needs to keep our communities informed through the LGBT press of any progress so that their efforts could gain momentum by enlisting additional support.

“Maryland LGBTQ communities are called upon to take notice of their youth,” said Diana Philip, Policy Director for FreeState Legal Project. “We are asking adults and youth to read the report and select the recommendations that they feel they can best contribute knowledge, contacts, and resources to influence administrators, policy makers, and legislators in their home counties.  I am hopeful that we will have youth in the room to help inform discussion and decision-making.”

To that end, Philip pointed out that YEA has begun reaching out to Gay Straight Alliances and LGBTQ youth community groups throughout the state to see if they can partner to hold Speak Up, Speak Out events—public discussions where LGBTQ youth can share their experiences in schools, foster care, and juvenile services.  “We want to capture information about the parts of these three systems that are supportive of these youth as well as the parts which undermine their wellbeing - what works, what doesn’t, what we should fix,” she said.

This is going to require an all-hands-on-deck approach from our communities. Rev. Olu-Moses Moise from the Apostolic Catholic Church said as much at the Pratt Library event, “I’m glad we are saying ‘enough is enough.’  This is a call to LGBTQ communities to come out to support LGBTQ children.”

While other work is needed and should not be brushed aside, helping solve the challenges facing our LGBTQ youth is the next big thing.  They are the future; we must join in.

Looking Beyond Marriage Equality

Having just viewed the poignant and heartrending film Bridegroom on the OWN network, I’d be hard pressed to find a better case for marriage equality.  The documentary, produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, known best for her creating the TV series Designing Women and her close association with the Clintons, tells the real story of two young small-town men Shane Bitney Crone and Tom Bridegroom who fall deeply in love and remained together for six years until Tom’s fatal accident at the age of 29 in 2011.  

Using interviews and footage from Shane’s video diary, the film presents the intense love between the two men and the reactions from family members as their relationship blooms.  Sadly, Tom’s parents were not accepting. 

Following the accident, the hospital staff initially would not permit Shane to visit him as he was not “family” under hospital rules.  After he died, Tom’s parents cut Shane off from making funeral arrangements and being a part of the services.  His life and relationship with Tom was completely eradicated as if it never occurred.  Of course, if marriage equality was legal (they were living in Prop 8 California at the time), the couple would have been married according to their stated plans, and Shane would have had the right to make the funeral arrangements. 

This story is among countless others that illustrate why it is so important to keep up the momentum in forging the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the country.

It’s a sexy and appealing issue in that many gay and lesbians’ dreams include settling down with the person they love and being committed to that person in a lasting relationship with all the legal rights, benefits and responsibilities conferred upon heterosexual couples. LGBT organizations have capitalized on the significance of marriage equality; many have flourished by raising funds to fight the good fight.

But as same-sex marriages become the law in state after state through the courts, legislatures and the ballot box (keep in mind that in 36 of the 50 states it is still not legal), what’s next for the LGBT movement, and in particular, those statewide LGBT organizations who have been in the forefront of the struggle?

Perhaps not as sunny as the thought of colorful weddings and a lifetime of bliss is the reality that there is a ton of work to do to achieve full equality for LGBT folks.  Senator Ben Cardin at Equality Maryland’s 25^th anniversary celebration said, “We will not be satisfied until we pass the Employment Non-discrimination Act,” popularly known as ENDA.

How important is this?  In no less than 29 states, a person can be fired from his/her job just for being gay.  The bill, which has been languishing in Congress for three decades, has been gaining steam over the years but can’t find its way to passage.  While the Senate is expected to consider a comprehensive ENDA by Thanksgiving, the tea party-controlled House of Representatives will create more obstacles despite overwhelming public support to end job discrimination based on sexual orientation.  That’s what they do.

At the same gala, Equality Maryland executive director Carrie Evans—and later echoed by Sen. Rich Madaleno—promised to work hard for passage of a statewide bill that would extend protections based on gender identity and expression.  Such laws exit in Baltimore City as well as Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore counties but no state measure has been enacted yet.  Many expect it can be accomplished if not this upcoming General Assembly (an election year) then 2015.  It’s way overdo.

Another area that local LGBT organizations can help considerably is the plight of homelessness among LGBT youth, a condition which Sen. Madaleno said cannot be tolerated.  Despite general gains in acceptance, young people are being tossed out of their homes by parents or family members for being gay or transgender or that the home environment is so rough that these kids have no choice but to leave.

Homelessness is a catastrophe to begin with; it’s even more acute for youth.  They are vulnerable to: poor health leading to disease, crime both as a victim or perpetrator, prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse—all tragedies considering their whole lives are ahead of them if they live that long.

In my interview with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, she acknowledged the tragedy of homelessness.  “It is even more heartbreaking when it involves our LGBT youth. They face extra challenges, such as being rejected by their own families,” she said.  “My administration is aware of the many barriers that they face and we are working to create a safe place where youth can receive services, as there are several non-profit agencies willing to collaborate with the City to help address the concerns of our LGBT homeless youth.”

The Frederick Center, rapidly becoming a template for LGBT community centers, is also making a concerted effort to provide services to LGBT youth and mitigate the risk of homelessness.  A strong effort is needed in Baltimore by such organizations as the GLCCB and Equality Maryland to raise funds for the cause and work with the city on this mission.  It’s vital.

And you don’t have to be an organization to do your part.  Local drag performer Shawnna Alexander is putting together an event to feed homeless LGBT youth on Thanksgiving Day.  It will take place from 1 pm. to 5 p.m. at the Metropolitan Community Church, 401 W. Monument St. in Baltimore.  Shawwna is raising money for this project by asking local establishments to hold 50-50 raffles, and from what I’m hearing, there has been great success. 

Therefore, worthwhile causes can attract interest and money if cases made for these initiatives are well-articulated.  There are many other needs to be addressed, such as improving police relations, dealing with domestic violence, the aging population and on and on.

Marriage equality, extremely important as it is and a magnet for donors is one thing.  The less glamorous issues are another, and they must be dealt with and soon.