Many LGBT homeless youth sell sex to survive on the streets

[Jazzy]

Many homeless youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are likely to engage in “survival sex” in order to stay alive on the streets or in homeless shelters, according to a new study.

The federally funded study by the Urban Institute, which was conducted over three years, included in-depth interviews with 283 young people in New York City, most of them 15 to 21 years old.

“The information they shared paints a vivid picture of how they survive in the face of adversity, often dealing with issues rooted in poverty, homophobia, transphobia, racism, child abuse, and criminalization,” the report states.

For many, selling sex to survive comes at a time of alienation when questions of sexual orientation and gender identity are still being resolved – questions that much of society finds difficult, if not impossible, to relate to.

Among the key findings:

Such youth are likely to have experienced family rejection, physical or sexual abuse, and other causes of mental and emotional trauma.

Young people might be recruited by an exploiter, but then eventually trade sex independently for money in order to pay such basic needs as food and shelter.

They experience frequent arrest for various misdemeanor crimes, creating further instability and perpetuating a reliance on survival sex.

Many of those interviewed report disappointing or frustrating experiences with social service systems and providers, which often fail to meet their need for safe housing, reliable income, and adequate mental and physical health care.

Some of the young people interviewed by the Urban Institute “experience violence at the hands of staff and clients at social service organizations and other locations that are intended to be safe.”

Still, researchers found, such youth are “extremely resilient” in the face of external challenges as well as sexual and gender identity issues.

Source

Toughts?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Many homeless youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are likely to engage in “survival sex” in order to stay alive

283 young people in New York City

Hmm, the word "likely" and the number "283" don't really match up to me. They'd need to study more people than that to figure out which group of people is "likely" to do anything.

Either way, I don't really buy into the whole "become a prostitute or you wont survive" way of thinking. There's always alternatives for people if they have enough drive and determination.