|  Rainbow
Flags and Yellow Equal Signs Don't Reflect Today's GLBT Community
By Glenn LeCarl
Our display of rainbow flags and yellow equal signs appears
disingenuous these days. Symbolizing inclusiveness and equality,
they seem increasingly out of place representing a community
which renders many unequal and that excludes whole segments
of its population from the benefits of its growing wealth
and influence.
 Maybe
we should adopt the GOP's elephant instead -- it would be
a more fitting emblem of our community and leading community
organizations as they stand today. At least in so far as our
treatment of homeless GLBT youth, we have perfected the very
arrogance and indifference of the wealthy and powerful toward
those who are poor and disenfranchised that many in our community
attribute to the Republican Party. We have abandoned our own
most vulnerable youth -- not the hallmark of a community with
its priorities in order.
The result is readily apparent: greatly disproportionate numbers
of GLBT youth living and dying on America's streets. Those
who have not succumbed due to violence, disease or suicide
face terrible choices, such as whether: to spend a night in
a shelter, in which they risk being sexually assaulted or
beaten; to sell their bodies for shelter or food; to forgo
the use of a condom for a few extra bucks; or to "escape"
their harsh reality with drugs and alcohol. Instead of getting
a helping hand up, they are more likely to be pushed to their
knees.
Incredibly, this enormous suffering and loss of life has failed
to move the heart -- or purse strings -- of our community.
Though unable to control the hate, ignorance and intolerance
that forces thousands of these kids from their homes and communities
each year, we could make a huge difference in what happens
to them from that point forward. We could offer many safety,
provide many with life-affirming choices and opportunities,
and we could save many lives; though significantly, we do
not. Our efforts on their behalf are minor at best, our investment
of resources meager. Not surprisingly, services geared specifically
toward helping them remain scarce.
Yet, our community's dearth of compassion and generosity toward
homeless GLBT youth doesn't end there. We have also largely
failed to work with -- or agitate against, when necessary
-- traditional service providers, funders and government agencies
to ensure these kids safe access within our nation's existent
shelter and youth services systems. As a result, they lack
even the most rudimentary safety net.
Our stubborn adherence to an education-only model for HIV/AIDS
prevention further evidences our callous disregard for the
crisis they face. To kids in dire need of a hot meal or a
safe place to sleep, we hand condoms and pamphlets. Alone,
these efforts and the funky ad campaigns that accompany them
remain so much latex and hot air.
If truly serious about reducing the incidence of HIV and AIDS
among these kids, we certainly must do more. We must, in fact,
broaden the whole paradigm for HIV/AIDS prevention. Surviving
on the street from day to day places GLBT youth in an extraordinarily
vulnerable position with regard to HIV/AIDS, as well as other
sexually transmitted diseases. Unless we aggressively target
homelessness, and the self-destructive behaviors so often
associated with life on the street, we will continue to see
infection rates soar.
Practicing safer sex, and taking care of one self generally
speaking, presupposes some degree of safety, stability and
hope for the future -- all of which we have yet to offer our
homeless youth. Until we do, the potency of our chosen symbols
will continue to erode with each passing year, and with each
kid lost to the street.
What is required of us may be daunting, the work arduous.
But should we finally include their well-being high among
our priorities, and make equal their consideration in allocating
our vast resources, we may yet give them a fighting chance.
Perhaps too our leading advocacy organizations, like HRC
and NGLTF,
will find the heart to stop playing just ever-so-slightly
naughty cops to the Log
Cabin Republican's good cop and begin fighting for the
lives of our homeless youth.
Only then will the rainbow flag and yellow equal sign -- not
the elephant -- reflect our reality and our aspirations.
Glenn LeCarl resides in Tallahassee, Florida with his life
partner and can be reached at glennalecarl@aol.com.
Also
see related articles:
 Pride:
The Meaning is in the Mind
Pride
for Dummies
Illustration
by Louis Trapani
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