Why We Need to Donate Directly to LGBTQIA+ Homeless Shelters
by Isabella Zollner
When the holiday season rolls around (remember those good old days?), people love to put their change into a donations box. Smiling faces and ringing bells can put anybody into a charitable mood. Even now — during the coronavirus pandemic, our homeless shelters need as much help as they can get.
Until a few years ago I wouldn’t have thought anything about donating to The Salvation Army. Then, I found a post on social media claiming The Salvation Army had been refusing service to LGBTQIA+ people who seek help at their women’s centers. I looked into it some more and discovered the place I had been donating to isn’t even considered a charity to some people.
The Salvation Army has a history darkened with LGBTQIA+ discrimination. Every year, hundreds of claims surface that homeless shelters run by The Salvation Army turn away LGBTQIA+ people. For instance, Jennifer Gale was reportedly turned away and froze to death when The Salvation Army refused her service. These stories brought light to a side of The Salvation Army that most people hadn’t heard of. Controversy began and people pointed out the good done by The Salvation Army and decided to turn a blind eye on their discrimination. But last year when Chick-Fil-A reportedly stopped donating to several anti-LGBTQIA+ organizations, including The Salvation Army, The Salvation Army lost the majority of those supporters.
The Salvation Army has also been discriminating against the LGBTQIA+ community on a much wider scale. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s The Salvation Army reacted strongly whenever legally forced to stop LGBTQIA+ discrimination. In 2004 The Salvation Army threatened to shut down every New York City service if forced to extend health benefits to partners of gay employees. New York City reportedly caved and exempted The Salvation Army from these new laws, as well.
In my opinion, power plays like this that show how dangerous The Salvation Army can be. Because of how much good The Salvation Army does for some Americans, plenty of governments have decided to ignore all the bad The Salvation Army does to the rest. Instead of becoming complacent to The Salvation Army’s homophobia and transphobia, you can donate to these homeless shelters specifically for LGBTQIA+ people instead.
True Colors United
True Colors United is an organization that works to find new ways to end LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness. True Colors United was founded in 2008 and since then they have created media and in person training LGBTQIA+ sensitivity training for homeless shelters. True Colors United also lobbies for better government funding for solutions to all youth homelessness. Their work with political leaders has done an immeasurable amount of help to homeless youth in America. In order to continue to empower LGBTQIA+ youth True Colors United makes an effort to hire people that were once homeless. True Colors United is non-profit and all donations will directly help homeless LGBTQIA+ youth. Use this link to donate to True Colors United.
New Alternatives
This New York City based organization provides services that help LGBTQIA+ homeless youth. New Alternatives has numerous programs ranging from HIV and AIDS prevention to weekly book clubs. Every program is built to give their clients the skills to live stable adult lives. One of New Alternative’s most important services is Case Management. Clients for Case Management can be enrolled in high school or college, apply for government benefits, and are helped with other legal issues. Through New Alternatives hundreds of homeless LGBTQIA+ youth are given the support and care they need to get off the streets. You can donate to New Alternatives here.
The Ali Forney Center
The Ali Forney Center is named after a gender nonconforming teen who spent his life advocating for homeless LGBTQIA+ teens. When Ali Forney was 22, he was murdered in Harlem. The Ali Forney Center was founded in Ali Forney’s honor in 2002. The Ali Forney Center has grown and now serves almost 1,400 people per year. The Ali Forney Center provides overnight shelters that are accepting of all people. Because 40% of all homeless youth are LGBTQIA+ organizations like The Ali Forney Center that allow anyone to stay the night at their shelters are extremely important. The Ali Forney Center’s donation website can be found here.
All three of these organizations put in every effort to help the homeless off the street. Without their efforts, thousands of LGBTQIA+ youth would have nowhere to call home. The Ali Forney Center, New Alternatives, and True Colors United accept and need donations year-round. Especially right now, during this pandemic, homeless folks need help more than ever. Those within the LGBTQIA+ community need it the most.
About the Author:
After being subjected to homophobic harassment in the classroom, Isabella decided to try and use her writing to encourage others to stand up for each other and themselves. Isabella is a high school student in Lafayette, IN.
