Cyndi Lauper wants to end LGBT youth homelessness
Cyndi Lauper has announced that she wants to bring an end to LGBT youth homelessness.
In a column for the Advocate, the singer writes that “It’s an election year and there’s a lot of talk about what our nation’s priorities need to be for the next four to eight years. What we have to make sure is not forgotten is the epidemic of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness.”
“Up to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT, yet fewer than 7 percent of kids nationwide are LGBT.”
To battle the homelessness of LGBT youth, Lauper wants to raise the public’s awareness by staging a national day organised by the True Colors Fund.
“That’s why, on April 27, 2016, we will raise our voices for #40toNoneDay: a national day organised by the True Colors Fund to raise awareness about LGBT youth homelessness.”
.@cyndilauper: “It’s time to end youth homelessness” Join us on #40toNoneDay https://t.co/HsC6i0JUNQ @TheAdvocateMag pic.twitter.com/AECA974rLT
— True Colors Fund (@TrueColorsFund) April 6, 2016
Lauper explains that family rejection is the most common reasons for homelessness but “it’s just one piece of the puzzle – a very big puzzle. We need to make sure we’re seeing the whole picture.”
But the 62-year-old singer isn’t the only one helping homelessness.
“Right now people all across America are making a difference. A 24-hour diner owner in North Carolina is giving kids a place to stay when they have nowhere else to go.”
She continues, saying that “A library in Indiana is letting kids without a permanent address use computers to access lifesaving resources. In Minnesota police officers are using an app developed by the community to help kids find shelters with available beds.”
“There are many more possibilities that have yet to be explored. That’s why we need to keep the conversation going.”