Author of Contemporary Gay Romance
Today I have the pleasure of hosting the annual GiveOUT Day over at Smoocher’s Voice. We’re raising $2000 for homeless lgbt children (and we’re halfway there!). You can win prizes, meet new people and help us reach our goal by giving to the part of our LGBT community that need it most. Stop by, have some fun, win some prizes. And even if you can’t give, please help us share the event.
For me, being called gay has never been an insult. I don’t worry too much about what people say, as much as what they do. And being somewhat physically aggressive myself, I have (in the past) sometimes welcomed the opportunity to stomp some manners and sense into those who believe themselves on a higher moral ground. But there are other, and better ways, to handle such situations as the video below shows.
Cole Strona from G.J + Iziki + Cole talks with Equality Hawaii’s Mathew Bellhouse-King about being bullied, getting called “gay” and how music can make a difference.
“Gay” is not an insult… from Equality Hawaii on Vimeo.
On any given night, there are between 500 and 2000+ local homeless gay youth trying to survive on the street. They may be right in your small hometown, or in the nearest city. Nationally, the numbers are estimated to be between 100k-250k+ homeless lgbt kids living on the street. We’re going to dispel some of the myths and misconceptions about homelessness and lgbt youth.
Assumption: I never see them, those numbers can’t be true. [Read more…] about 10 Misconceptions About Homeless LGBTQ Youth
“You can’t save everyone.”
These were the hardest four words I ever heard in my life and they were given to me by a spiritual mentor who picked me up from the floor and held me after I heard the news of the suicide of a very close personal friend. I have never gotten over the death of my friend, but her death prompted change in my own life and in the lives of others that were touched by her presence.
This month, Lost-n-Found was informed of the death of a young man who approached them for help, and then left the program because he didn’t think he could stop doing drugs. I don’t work directly with the LnF board, or any of the volunteers. I’m just one of those spreading the news about the work they do. But I know personally how something like this hits you. Hard and below the belt. [Read more…] about The hardest lessons
Often people ask what happens to my donation? How does it affect the lgbt kids you support? Who are these kids? Lost-n-Found, like most youth-serving organizations, is very protective of the kids that seek them out for help. Often, you never see the faces of those that you help. These brave young souls have been through hell, but they also got off the street because of people like you who have donated and given them hope for a better future.
Lost-n-Found has helped over 200 lgbt kids to get off the streets all around the South. You can help us help them by donating at the link below.
Welcome friend and MM Romance author DP Denman to the blog with an important post about finding hope.
I read a story recently on a new website called YouthResource.org. Ok, so they’re not exactly “new” but they’re new to me. The online resource run by LGBT youth for LGBT youth isn’t flashy or impressive but it addresses the basics from how to come out to your parents and topics like HIV. It also has sections where youth involved in the peer program can share their stories. One of them ended a tale that I know glossed over the worst parts by saying, “Sometimes you have to make your own light at the end of the tunnel but you don’t have to do it alone.”
Those simple yet inspiring words cut right to the heart of what groups like The Trevor Project and Lost-n-Found Youth are trying to tell LGBT kids. It’s difficult to be a teen and sometimes things happen that you never expected and would rather not deal with but that doesn’t make it hopeless. [Read more…] about Sometimes You Have to Make Your Own Light