Tag Archives: homelessness

The Catholic Archdiocese of Washington DC has issued an ultimatum to Washington DC, saying if marriage equality is approved without an exemption for them, they will end all their social service programs including food and shelter for the homeless, adoption programs, and public health services. Under the bill, headed for a D.C. Council vote next month, religious organizations would not …

Last night my pal Chris accompanied me to the Ali Forney Center’s gala fundraiser, A Place At The Table, held at the Chelsea Art Museum where Manhattan’s gay glitterati nibbled fancy bits from top chefs, took part in silent and live auctions, and were entertained by Tony-nominee Justin Bond and famed singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright – all in the name of …

Car-owning New Yorkers have been eternally hassled by homeless men who volunteer to “make sure” nothing happens to their parked car. Taking their cue from the mob, this service is offered for a tip, of course, with the thinly veiled threat that non-tippers will return to find their vehicles damaged. But the cops are backing off the issue after courts …

Today the Indypendent published a heartbreaking story about the epidemic of LGBT homeless youth on the streets of NYC, where every night hundreds of gay children hustle for money, drugs, or just a warm place to sleep. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 575,000 to 1.6 million homeless and runaway youth are living on the streets …

The Ali Forney Center, NYC’s homeless shelter for LGBT youth, is naming one of their residences for the late Bea Arthur. Via press release: The Ali Forney Center (AFC), the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth, will formally announce it’s plan to name a residence for LGBT youth in honor of Bea Arthur at her memorial service on …

New York City is offering homeless families free one-way plane tickets if a relative elsewhere agrees to take them in. It’s part of a Bloomberg administration program to keep the homeless out of the expensive shelter system, which costs $36,000 a year per family. More than 550 families have left the city since 2007. All it takes is for a …

Little Rock, Arkansas city director Erma Hendrix doesn’t want a homeless shelter in her district. Because the homeless are criminals and homosexuals. And criminally homosexual. Or something. City Director Erma Hendrix has long seemed a few bricks shy (memorably, she stooged for G.W. Bush in his road show to privatize Social Security), but she seemingly outdid herself this week by …

Last night my loyal companion Aaron accompanied me to the third annual Broadway Beauty Pageant where five male Broadway stars competed in the categories of talent, swimsuit, and question & answer. Emceed by four-time Tony nominee Tovah Feldshuh and celebrity judged by Seth Rudetsky, SNL’s Ana Gastayer, Tony winner Beth Leavel, and playwright Charles Busch, the evening was a fundraiser …

For over the rainbow glittery gayness, how about an event that combines barely-clad boys, show tunes, tiaras, and public service for homeless LGBT youth? This Monday the Ali Forney Center presents their annual Broadway Beauty Pageant. Handsome hunks from your favorite Broadway shows are competing to raise money for the Ali Forney Center, an organization that provides shelter and services …

Calling it the “first domino to fall” as the economy wreaks havoc on gay social agencies, Karen Ocamb reports on Pam’s House Blend that LA’s gay youth shelter GLASS has voted to declare bankruptcy. Wednesday night, eight days after its 25th anniversary, the board of directors of Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services (GLASS) voted 7-0 (with one abstention) to …

Christmas is a bittersweet time for me. Ali Forney was murdered on the streets of New York City in December of 1997. He was the seventh homeless LGBT kid I knew who had been killed on the streets between 1994 and 1997. In those days there was no shelter for LGBT kids in New York City. The only youth shelter …

On Thursday night, Aaron and I attended Jingle 2008, the fifth annual holiday fundraising party for the Ali Forney Center, NYC’s shelter for homeless LGBT youth. Held at the lovely Meatpacking District loft of David Raleigh and Richard Bahl, the party brought out a nice crowd of Gotham’s homorati including pop star Ari Gold, Tony winner B.D. Wong, gossip maven …

At the Ali Forney Center we work hard to provide a holiday season of joy for the homeless LGBT youth who come to us for help. Many of our kids find this season challenging; it’s getting colder outside, and they really feel the pain of being rejected by their families during a time that so emphasizes family togetherness. We try …

Please click the box at the top of my far right ad column and consider making a holiday donation to the Ali Forney Center, NYC’s homeless shelter for LGBT youth. In addition to accepting cash donations online, the Ali Forney Center has a lengthy list of desperately needed everyday items such as socks, underwear, toiletries, cleaning supplies, new and “gently …

The Ali Forney Center’s drop-in location for homeless LGBT youth is facing a crisis. A leading provider of services for New York City’s homeless queer youth may have to close its Chelsea drop-in location. The city health department told the agency that the $600,000 contract that funds the location will be ended in June of 2009. “For the homeless LGBT …

My hometown of Orlando has been rousting the homeless from downtown streets, causing them to go live in the woods outside of town. The homeless crackdown in downtown Orlando has forced many homeless to migrate near east Orange County suburbs. Within four miles of the busy intersection at Colonial Drive and the Econlockhatchee Trail, News 13 was told as 20 …