This part of our web site is for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in foster care, and everyone who cares for and about them.

If you are a LGBTQ young person in foster care, you might experience discrimination based on your sexual and/or gender identity; a lack of service providers who are sensitive to your particular needs; questions about whether to “come out” or openly acknowledge your sexual or gender identity while in foster care; and difficulty finding other supportive LGBTQ youth and adults.

LFC’s Special LGBTQ Project is unique because it is based on information from our clients, and relies on young people in foster care to identify the problems in the system that are most difficult and painful for them.

In addition to our individual advocacy, some of the project’s current activities include working for increased LGBTQ-safe/friendly foster homes and residential placements; evaluate possible bias by ACS and private foster care agencies against prospective gay foster parents; working for the best Anti-Discrimination Policy for LGBTQ youth in foster care; working for the best treatment guidelines for transgender youth in foster care; and evaluating all foster care programs currently identified as LGBTQ-friendly.

For more detailed information, please go to You Are Not Alone, our handbook for LGBTQ youth in foster care, which includes an updated resource guide of programs and services specifically for LGBTQ Youth.