homeless teens

A growing body of research coming out of San Francisco State University's Family Acceptance Project, has shown that by choosing to accept their GLBT children, families can make a profound difference in the lives of our youth. For example, youth who experience greater family acceptance report lower levels of depression, and are far less likely to attempt suicide, use illegal drugs, or have unprotected sex.

Cyndi Lauper asked guests Norah Jones, Clay Aiken, Vanessa Carlton and others, to come together for a very special cause: to help raise awareness about homelessness among GLBT youth. Also joining the group was Carson Kressley, Rosie O'Donnell and Wanda Sykes, and Lou Reed.

In NYC, nearly 4,000 young people are homeless every night - many of them gay. On the Christopher Street pier in Greenwich Village, where dozens of gay and transgender youths hang out, Safe Horizon's Streetwork Project hand out snacks, condoms and information. The organization sends out several nightly teams to find homeless youths. Not all are thrown out of their houses, but many are.

The True Colors Residence for homeless GLBT youth opens in Harlem on September 1. The idea behind the 30-bed facility was conceived by Cyndi Lauper, her manager and a non-profit that provides housing and support for homeless families and seniors. It will be the first permanent housing facility in New York for homeless GLBT youth. "In New York City, a very disproportionate number (up to 40 percent) of homeless youth identify as L.G.B.T.," Lauper said in a letter urging donors to support the project.