Washington, D.C. – The Center for American Progress’ Director of LGBT Research and Communications Project, Laura E. Durso, issued the following statement in support of the introduction of the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. The legislation will include protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, or LGBT, people against discrimination in federally funded programs serving homeless and runaway youth.
For the first time, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will include explicit protections to ensure that no youth is discriminated against based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity when seeking help from life-saving programs. The bipartisan leadership shown today by Chairman Leahy and Sen. Collins recognizes the disproportionate number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who are without stable housing, and is a significant step forward in providing all young people with the culturally competent services they need to survive.
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For more information or to speak to an expert on this topic contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.