The recent publication of an ad in the progressive religious magazine Sojourners, placed by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and created by the Ali Forney Center, brings to light the disproportionate impact of homelessness on LGBT youth. This is a worthwhile endeavor, dramatically articulating an often overlooked but important social justice reality: that prejudice against LGBT youth (and adults, by extension) causes a burden on LGBT people in the form of homelessness, bullying, and attempted suicide. This is an important issue raised in a publication that includes some readers who may be unfamiliar with the stark statistics in the ad.
This chain of events has inevitably resurfaced the recent controversy over Sojourners’ refusal to carry ads promoting a Mother’s Day video from Believe Out Loud, an organization I oversee. The video called upon church members and leaders to welcome into our congregations those children who arrive with two moms in tow — and, symbolically by extension, all queer people.
And it is this that makes all the difference.
Those who compare the two ads are really comparing appleseeds to applesauce, a distinction that Sojourners itself has historically made.
http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Oped_Dont_Be_Fooled_By_a_False_Conversion/The video was posted back in May by Ian David here on DU, http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x581067#581575 I missed it then And now it's to late to comment on it in that thread. So I will comment now, that video brought tears to my eyes.
Homelessness in the GLBT community is a much bigger problem for our youth than people realize, Gay friendly Churches have been helping but it's not enough. With more acceptance comes more help. I know it's a uphill battle, but I'm in it for the long haul.