elingregory | HAHAT amongst other things

Click on the picture to reach the rest of the participants, only please read a bit first. There's another link for your convenience, at the bottom of the post.

I think we'd all agree that one of the basic human requirements for existence is to have a safe, secure and comfortable home. Unfortunately, for many LGBT teens, coming out, being true to themselves, being honest with their families, puts an end to secure comfort and sees them at best couch hopping and, at worst, homeless. So many children suffer the cruellest rejection by the very people upon whom they should be able to rely. My post today is in support of the Albert Kennedy Trust - a British organisation that provides accommodation for LGBT teens who have nowhere else to go. The figures I am going to quote below are about the same as in the UK but come from a US website.

That's pretty disturbing right there. How about this one:

Either way you look at it, to be homeless is a horrible risk for a young person or for a child:

14.4: The average age that lesbian and gay youth in New York become homeless.

13.5: The average age that transgender youth in New York become homeless.

THIRTEEN! And that's just an average

The Albert Kennedy Trust has set up the Give 15 organisation to provide the support a child needs when it is needed. This can be anything from counselling and advice to a room for the night or a room in a safe house as a long term home.

Click the pic to get to the Give 15 page and see all the ways you can help. If you don't want to do that, comment below with your email address. At the end of the blog hop on the 27th I'll pick a name and make a donation on to AKT his or her behalf that will be enough to get a young person off the street for the night.

If you don't live in the UK there will be similar organisations local to you. Check out the excellent Youth Project, if you live in Canada, or how about The Trevor Project? The author Brandon Shire has made a comprehensive list of organisations to support lesbian, gay, transgender and transexual youth which may be found here. Thanks to Brandon for allowing me to post the link. I understand that soon the list will be even more comprehensive. and he is dead keen to hear from people with links to new organisations. One day, I hope, they may be unnecessary, but until then ...

I know that books are the usual prizes so if in addition to the donation on your behalf you would like a copy of Alike As Two Bees [mild M/M romance set in Ancient Greece] or On A Lee Shore [Action adventure with pirates and a little bit of gay romance] please say "Greeks" or "Pirates" and I'll send whichever to the winner as well. Don't forget to add your email address to your comment.

Enjoy your hopping and I hope you are lucky.

Have some music. I'm completely in love with this bloke's hands and forearms and don't understand why he's not more popular.