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November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month
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No one should have to sleep in the streets, especially our youth.
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November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and as the season turns colder, we are concerned for our LGBTQ youth that have no where to go. So many situations can lead to homelessness as an LGBTQ youth.
Youth experiencing homelessness live at the intersections of various marginalized identities, which may include their race, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, ability, and more. The systems meant to serve them – juvenile justice, homelessness, child welfare, health care, immigration, or education – often don’t take into account their specific circumstances, which can result in their needs not being met. (
http://attheintersections.org/)
Many of these youth have been rejected by their families and churches, suffered abuse, aged out of foster care, battled with economic hardship, bullying, and/or experienced harassment by school staff and administration.
As we look to the youth to be the
experts in their own lives, and the authors of their own stories, we understand that we all needed some guidance and care at some of the most vulnerable times in our own lives. If you know a homeless youth, there are ways that you can help.
Our friends at
OUTMemphis have a great program we'd like to recommend as a resource.
The Metamorphosis Program provides stable housing and services to homeless and at-risk LGBTQ youth, as well as prepares them to be more stable on their own. We know that nationally, nearly 40% of young people on the street identify as LGBTQ. A recent survey in Washington, DC, found that
43% of their homeless kids are LGBTQ. This housing program will be more than just a safe space to sleep each night. It is an opportunity for youth who have been cast aside or kicked out to have the chance to be affirmed in a loving and supportive environment, learn tools that engage them in work experience, and learn self-sustaining emotional support tactics.
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Youth Emergency Services, or the YES program, provides homeless or struggling LGBTQ youth ages 18-25 with basic services and assistance. Services provided include:
Food Pantry
Clothes
Hygiene Kits
Internet Access
Storage
Case Management
Other services as needed
If you or someone you know is in need of any of these services, please contact the Youth Services Manager at OUTMemphis, Stephanie Reyes.
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Gwendolyn D. Clemons is a 19 year veteran with the Division of Corrections working as supervisor in the Counseling Department. Gwendolyn is certified in Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Behavioral Modification, and other certifications, Mentor, Life Coach and is an ordained minister. Gwendolyn Clemons' educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Strayer University and is pursuing her MBA in Organizational Management at Strayer University.
Gwendolyn's wife, Rashandra Campbell-Clemons, were legally married in Chicago, Illinois in 2014.
Self described as, "Minister of Social Justice, Political Advocate and Public Speaker," Gwen is invested in the community and often says, "Your transformation is my priority."
Clemons is the co-founder of the digital and print offering,
TUV (The Unleashed Voice) Magazine. TUV works to aid the LGBTQ community and its allies with a space that re-centers the diverse voices and experiences of LGBTQ persons of color and is a media space that is "More than a magazine, It's a synergized movement!" TUV features a plethora of information and entertainment relevant to the lives southerners, living their authentic lives.
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Do you know someone we should spotlight for being a positive LGBT woman of color? Let us know! Email:contactus@sisterreach.org.
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It's Diabetes Awareness Month!
Almost everyone knows someone with Diabetes. Each year, there are
76,488 un-diagnosed deaths where Diabetes is the
cause. They don't call it "The Silent Killer" for laughs. It's symptoms are most times overlooked and disregarded as nothing to be concerned about. We asked a nurse what signs we should pay attention to. Nurse Tammy H, Veteran's Hospital, Cleveland, Oh, says, "that what we are really talking about is symptoms of high blood sugar, not diabetes itself. Some of the most common markers that your blood sugar is elevated are:
High blood sugar/ Increased Thirst / Dry Mouth / Frequent Urination / Polydipsia, Polyphagia, Polyuria (increased thirst and fluid intake, increased appetite, increased need to urinate) /
Unexplained Weight Loss / Fatigue / Blurred Vision
We also asked what should someone do if they are experiencing 3 or more any of these symptoms. Nurse Tammy states, "Go see your doctor and explain you are having symptoms of high blood sugar. Check out www.diabetes.org for tips and more information on this silent killer."
LGBT people have high rates of type 2 diabetes. They also have unique health characteristics, disparities, and barriers that increase their risk for diabetes and its complications. Some examples include the following:
• The LGBT community has the highest cigarette smoking rates of any group (ranging from 38 to 59 percent among youth and from 11 to 50 percent among adults). Smoking increases insulin resistance and is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
• Lesbians have the highest rate of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) (38 percent, vs. 14 percent among heterosexual women). PCOS is a risk factor for type 2. At a national conference, I heard a professor stress the importance of screening sisters and daughters of women who had PCOS as a way to prevent type 2, but she did not mention that lesbians are at highest risk. When I asked if she knew this, she acknowledged that she did.
• LGB African-American adults have the highest diabetes rates (transgender specific info omitted due to lack of data).
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Become a Sustaining Partner
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This year, SisterReach celebrates FIVE years of doing Reproductive Justice work in the state of Tennessee. For as little as FIVE dollars, you can become a
Sustaining Partne
r
investing in this important work to ensure that FIVE years from now, SisterReach is able to continue serving marginalized women and girls in Tennessee.
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SisterReach | 901.222.4425 | 901.222.4441| www.sisterreach.org
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