47%
Forty-seven percent of LGBTQ+ members report experiencing being disowned by their family…47%. According to Lesley University 1 in 4 teens are force to leave their homes after coming out to their parents. Forty percent of the homeless population in the United States are LGBTQ+ youth. Homeless and trying to finish junior high school and high school. These numbers are staggering and I cannot image a teen trying to figure out this world on their own and navigate it successfully or safely.
These were the numbers I was hit with as I started promoting my book, “My Kid’s Gay & I’m OK!” I had no idea these statistics were this high. A teen has limited life experiences, limited job skills, and limited financial resources. My focus shifted from sharing my book, to creating the non-profit MKGOK because of the struggles faced by this 47%. As I looked at 47% of my audience, I realized how much more I needed to do. So many organizations are helping with housing, emotional support, and more but I was not aware of an organization’s mission to improve the social and economic life through educational experience, namely scholarships.
Forty-seven percent of LGBTQ+ youth need to be financially independent quickly whether through training for a trade, certification process, or a 2 or 4 year degree. Not all of these avenues are eligible for Pell Grants or student loans. And as the 1 in 4 teens who are forced out of their childhood homes into either a homeless shelter or couch surfing with extended family or friends, trying to graduate high school and figure out the next step for their future is daunting to say the least. When the world is beating down your door, it is difficult to make rational decisions when you are alone, overwhelmed, and with limited life experiences.
I look back over my early years and think how much harder my life would be if my parents disowned me prior to graduating high school or even at the age of 18. I had great parents, who were willing to let me explore this world independently but also provided a safe haven when the world became too much for me. They guided me, gave me a safe base, and encouraged me to go after my dreams. They were my biggest cheerleaders and also my loudest critics and I can not imagine my early years without their steady presence in my life.
Forty-seven percent is 47% too much, especially when it is children and young adults. Until that number becomes zero, MKGOK will continue to raise money for scholarships to help the LGBTQ+ pursue their dreams. Please consider giving today.
