Tag Archives: LGBT Youth

A Mom’s Journey

  By Christian Paolino | April 11, 2013 - 10:29 pm |
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The following is a Lenten reflection given to her parish by Lourdes, a mother who attended one of our workshops:

Lent is a time for prayerful reflection on God’s forgiveness of our falling short of His glory. It is a time for challenging ourselves to give alms or to give up something, whether it is food or a habit that is an obstacle to living the gospel fully.  Lent is a time for conversion, leaving behind old habits and embracing new ones, in order to allow the Holy Spirit to change us so that we are more like Christ. I challenge you to give up prejudices you may have for an individual or a certain group of people that is outside your level of comfort.

Before the summer of 2010, I would have had difficulty loving my neighbor as myself, if my neighbor was gay, or transgender. Sure, I had a much older gay cousin whom I loved, but he was family, so that didn’t really count. Whether or not my hairdresser in Florida was gay, I couldn’t be sure, but he was cool and quite lovable.

Stained Glass, St.Mary, Scarborough

Stained Glass, St.Mary, Scarborough – By The Rev. Steve Day
Used under Creative Commons License

What I couldn’t appreciate was the stranger who was overtly gay, you know, the one with mannerisms. Of course, I’d be respectful if I came across such a person, but I had certain prejudices since my exposure was limited to the mixed messages from the Catholic religion, the television, and the news. How could I see these people as brothers and sisters with God-given gifts if I didn’t have personal conversations or connections with them? They were different.

The summer before my son’s junior year in high school would bring about the change God knows I needed. The catalyst to my transformation was when my teenage son told me he wasn’t heterosexual. I was shocked by the news, but I told my son Joe that I loved him. I did love him, although I thought there was room for change. I didn’t quite understand him at that moment, but I knew I would do my best to try. My son was a gift from God; I wasn’t going to turn my back on him and leave him to get validation and love only from his friends.

My world suddenly had turned upside-down, and yet nothing had changed. My life would be different, and my son’s future too. However, he was the same person I knew and loved and for whom I had sacrificed. I left my teaching job so that I could stay home to raise him. Yet, the teacher was being taught by her son, and his friends, about love the way God intended. It was quite surreal to think about how my expectations for Joe would have to change, and yet I still wanted the same things for him—to be happy, healthy, and to make a living doing something he loves, with someone he loves by his side—someone who brings out the best in him. Above all, I wanted him to keep his faith and trust in God. I reminded him that God loves him.

You may be thinking that my son’s news is what transformed me, but it was only a spark. I loved my son, but I didn’t totally accept him. It took my encounters with two other individuals to complete the transformation- the first of whom I met before my son’s news and the second I met afterwards.

The first was with my hairdresser in NJ—a wonderful individual named JD. In chatting with him, I discovered that, although he was a gay man, his values were very similar to mine. In fact, he would express to my son which teen behaviors needed changing, sometimes giving advice and sometimes teasing in a good-natured way. I came to realize that he is a wonderful person with many gifts and that he would be an exemplary father figure, although currently he is an uncle.

The second person is a boy named Daniel, who befriended Joe. I met Daniel two days after Joe’s revelation to me. Daniel was different and I was concerned that his artsy, slightly feminine ways would rub off on my son. Daniel wore too many bracelets and had a penchant for sewing his own clothes because of his interest in fashion design. I felt it was important to get to know Daniel because I wanted to know about the person who was hanging out with my son. Daniel was gay, but had not expressed it to his family.

It turns out that Daniel was a very kind person who had a talent for art and fashion since he was young. In three days of conversing with him and getting to know him, it occurred to me that he was special. I went to bed thinking, “he’s a little weird; he thinks differently than me”.

I woke up on the fourth day and thought, “Yes, he’s different in some ways, but that’s ok. If I can appreciate a person for who he is, it doesn’t make sense to think, ‘if only he weren’t gay” because if he weren’t gay, he’d be a different person; it doesn’t mean that one wouldn’t like him that way too, but the question becomes: Is he lovable the way he is now?” That is when I had my epiphany and realized that as humans we need to embrace the uniqueness of individuals and not feel threatened by it. I can still remember vividly the tears streaming down my face due to my spiritual awakening. It was Sunday morning and I was not at home, but I rushed off walking to the nearest Catholic Church to give thanks to God for the gift of my enlightenment.

In speaking of the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 verse 7 it reads: “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” After listing various spiritual gifts, verses 11-13 conclude: “But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” Let us remember that our individual gifts are meant to be shared with one another in faithful unity; we need each other to become whole, just as we need the Spirit in order to become holy.

My life has changed for the better since my epiphany opened my heart to others who are part of a different community. My life isn’t the only one that has changed as a result of my transformation. My son isn’t living with the pain that comes from keeping a part of who he is hidden from his family. My husband has undergone an amazing change of heart, in part, due to my renewal of spirit. Also, Daniel told me that it was inspiring to see my loving relationship with my son and he came out to his mother within a couple of months of our visit with him. The good news is that I now have a broader base of people to love who can teach me and remind me that by loving His children, I honor God.

First-person testimony like Lourdes’ is often key to changing hearts and minds when it comes to LGBT people. Using a technique called personal narrative, we encourage and equip participants in our workshops to tell their own stories.  We thank Lourdes for her willingness to share her transforming experience.  May we hear yours?

Parsippany Teen Calls for Ban on Conversion Therapy on Gay Kids

  By Christian Paolino | February 28, 2013 - 9:11 am |
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Jacob Rudolph, the Parsippany teen-ager whose public coming-out became a YouTube sensation, began a petition to New Jersey’s leadership to outlaw “conversion therapy” on minors who identify as gay.

Over 100,000 people have already signed the petition supporting the bill, which had been introduced by State Senator Ray Lesniak (Dem., Union). If passed, it would prohibit doctors, psychologists and other therapists from “sexual orientation change efforts” on patients under the age of 18. The so-called “conversion therapy” has been discredited by every major medical association and widely regarded as harmful.

More coverage:

Parsippany teen leads efforts to ban ‘conversion therapy’ for gay kids
Bergen Record

Parsippany Teen Comes Out, Gets “Standing O”

  By Christian Paolino | January 27, 2013 - 10:11 pm | , ,
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Parsippany, N.J., high school student Jacob Rudolph walked to the podium to accept the “Class Actor” award, his school community had no idea that he was about to quit acting… as a straight person.

Rudolph, 18, chose the opportunity to reveal to classmates and teachers that he is LGBT (he deliberately does not identify with a particular “label”), and their response was heartwarming, thunderous applause.

“We were just stunned at the immediate, overwhelmingly positive reaction,” said Jacob’s mother. “We were so proud of that audience, so happy, so relieved, we couldn’t believe it. Then we remembered to get up and cheer.”

Jacob said the irony of being given the award was not lost on him, and he was tired of spending every day pretending to be someone he isn’t.

“Sure, I’ve been in a few plays and musicals, but more importantly, I’ve been acting every single day of my life. You see, I’ve been acting as someone I’m not…you see me acting the part of straight Jacob, when I am in fact LGBT.”

His dad captured the speech on video:

“I’ve sat in that auditorium for plays, meetings, concerts, awards ceremonies, rehearsals. I never imagined it as a venue for something as momentous as Jacob’s revelation,” said the Rev. Susan Sica, Vicar of St. Gregory’s Church in Parsippany. “Well done Jacob, and well done, PHS. I add my applause and good wishes, though praying for the time when none will have to ‘come out’ there or anywhere else because they’ve never been ‘put in.’” St. Gregory’s is currently in the discernment process for the Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregations program.

New Jersey is lucky to have a number of organizations advocating for the protection and support of its LGBT kids, including the North Jersey chapter of GLSEN, the Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network.

A number of our congregations have or support groups for LGBT people, or families with an LGBT member:

These are just a few examples of what our congregations are doing A growing number of them are in discernment for or have already become a Believe Out Loud Episcopal Congregation  and supporting Integrity’s work as Proud Parish Partners.   We would love to add yours to the list!

IntegriTV, Day 7 of General Convention

  By Christian Paolino | July 12, 2012 - 8:20 am | , , ,
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Our own Michael Cudney hosts the Day 7 edition of IntegriTV. The Integrity Nerve Center is featured, along with a conversation with Dr. Ragies Gunda, a Scripture scholar from Zimbabwe. We also look at the presence of many younger people in attendance and close with a look back at the Integrity Eucharist in stills and music.

Newark Teen Deputy Gibson Oakley Cites LGBT Inclusion as Convention Priority

  By Christian Paolino | July 3, 2012 - 12:31 pm |
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Gibson Oakley made no bones about what will be on his mind as he heads to General Convention this week.  One of two teenagers who will be part of the lay deputation representing the Diocese of Newark, Gibson told those who would be voting for him that the church needs to be a welcoming haven for LGBT youth who encounter hostility on a daily basis.

“Over eighty-five percent of LGBT students have experienced some form of harassment at school,” Gibson told those at an elections meeting at Newark’s Diocesan Convention in January of 2011, when he was just 16. “Many of these teens feel that they have nowhere to turn and some, unfortunately, kill themselves. I believe that our own churches should be places where gay teens may turn in times of trouble.”

Oakley also thinks the church should proceed with blessing same-sex relationships as marriages.  “As a gay man,” he added, “I would like to walk down the aisle in a church and hear the celebrant utter the words ‘I now pronounce you husbands’.”

Oakley’s comments were met with a resounding cheer. And then, after several rounds of voting, he won.  “When they put the results on the screen, I looked up but it didn’t register. Then my friend said, ‘You got it’. But it really struck me when Kai (Alston, diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries) came over and gave me a big hug. I realized that what I had worked for was really coming true.”

Hardly a one-issue candidate, Oakley also cites domestic violence, volunteerism, and the environment as areas of personal focus.  He and fellow deputy Caroline Christie worked with Integrity founder Dr. Louie Crew in advance of the election.  As a long-time member of the Executive Committee and fixture at General Convention, Dr. Crew helped prepare the young candidates for the election and what will follow.

Read more about Gibson & Caroline’s election at the Diocese of Newark’s special convention coverage site:

Short Films Encourage Acceptance by Families

  By Christian Paolino | January 18, 2011 - 3:22 pm | Uncategorized
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Courtesy of the Impact Program blog, “Always My Son” is one of a series of short documentary films called are being produced by the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University to encourage the families of young LGBT people from a variety of cultural backgrounds to be supportive vs. judgmental.  Studies show a family’s response can have a dramatic effect on a person’s well-being.

Long Island, Newark, New Jersey and New York Bishops offer Statements on the Recent Suicides, Bullying, and Anti-Gay Violence

  By Chap James Day | October 19, 2010 - 11:06 am | Uncategorized
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The Presiding Bishop joined with religious leaders across America in a statement of solidarity against bullying and a call for action and time of healing in the wake of the recent gay suicides anti-gay violence.  If you have not read about this, Walking With Integrity has the Press Release.

Many have also seen the “It Gets Better” video with Bishop Robinson.  If you have not, you can find it here: It Gets Better: Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire.

The bishops who serve Long Island, Newark, New Jersey and New York have also released statements that are well worth a read, and have been reproduced below.

Diocese of Long Island, 18 Oct 2010:

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

October 20th has been designated as a day of solidarity, witness and prayer for those who have died and those who have been injured and victimized by hate crimes directed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We have been asked to wear the color purple as a sign of that solidarity and witness, and so I encourage you to wear purple on the 20th as we stand together against the sinfulness of hatred and bigotry that has taken hold in our country and as an expression of our mourning for those who have been injured or died.

Beyond our participation of the events and symbolism of October 20, 2010, I am asking you to change the world. My pastoral request is that each of you commits your heart, mind and body to living in the midst of our neighborhoods and communities as people who are committed to the message of Jesus Christ. If we seriously live the gospel life, keep the promises of the Baptismal Covenant and make a commitment to turn our hearts to God, in fact we can change the world, begin to alleviate fear of others and create an atmosphere in society in which, by following our lived example, people will begin to respect the dignity of every human being.
I believe the church must lead this effort in a way that calls upon religious people and religious leaders, to live the message of faith that each teaches. The world can be changed by our living. Our words alone, our disdain, our anger, our expressions of disbelief at the actions of other, cannot and will not, serve to change the world. Our society has become accustomed to statements made following such horrible events. The words all begin to sound similar in a chorus of heart-felt feelings that almost seem to anticipate the next series of atrocities.
I am calling less for words and more for action to counter violence and degradation with faithful living, unconditional loving and the Christ-like acceptance of all God’s people.
This effort must begin in our homes, our schools, our workplaces and our churches. This effort must be lived person to person. We must remove the hypocrisy of focusing on the inhumanity in the wider world while ignoring the inhumanity and lack of Christian concern in our midst. At the very least, there must be an end to the use of the gospels to dishonor, and victimize other children of God.
It is time to change the world by seriously living the Christian life in its fullness and setting aside the propensity to use the faith to win arguments, win votes or divide and conquer.
We can change the world by being Christian, always in all places and with all people. We can address violence, with love, hatred with acceptance, and death with faith in a living God, in Jesus Christ.
Let us endeavor to change the world on behalf of all those who have suffered and died because of who they were and how they lived in the image of God. Let us endeavor to change the world for the sake of all those who seek a relationship with Jesus Christ and long to see that relationship lived in the midst of God’s people. Let us endeavor to change the world for the sake of all God’s people. Let us truly be the church together for the world.

Faithfully, In Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop of Long Island

Diocese of Newark and New Jersey, Joint Statement, 8 Oct 2010:

We write as Christian pastors who are privileged to serve as bishops of The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Newark and in the Diocese of New Jersey in order to express our grief, alarm, compassion and outrage over the suicide of Tyler Clementi. We join our voices with the voices of all those concerned in Ridgewood, where Tyler grew up, at Rutgers University, where he was a freshman and across our nation. Another gay young person has died by suicide.

This tragic loss of a promising life would appear to be directly related to an invasion of Tyler’s privacy and a violation of his personal life. Much remains to be considered by law enforcement authorities and the courts in order to determine whether this is also a case of bullying, a felony or a hate crime – or a combination of the three. Whatever that legal determination may be, we join with other Christian and religious leaders, with the LGBT community and with all people of good will who take their stand against hatred, bigotry and bullying; against every expression of physical and verbal violence; and against any violation of the dignity of LGBT persons. When the rights of any – especially the members of vulnerable groups who have so often been scapegoated – are threatened, the rights of all are endangered.

We want to call attention to another, potentially deeper, issue here. It is the invasion of intimacy. Intimacy is a holy place within every human being; an innermost sanctuary where we develop our ultimate beliefs and values, nurture our closest relationships and maintain our deepest commitments. No one has the right to disclose that intimacy for someone else without consent. Such a violation is tantamount to the desecration of a sacred space. It is, in fact, a sacred space. It is the territory of the soul.

Technology, however, now provides tools to record, seize and disclose the most intimate matters of our lives without our consent. Identities can be stolen, hearts broken and lives shattered. Technology has placed powerful tools in human hands. Will they be used for building-up or for breaking down our neighbor? Tyler Clementi’s death certainly poses some important legal issues, but it also raises some critical moral concerns. Hubris has outstripped humility. And that is a serious problem. We can do better. We must do better, with God’s help.

In our Episcopal tradition, whenever we reaffirm our faith in worship, we are given a challenging question: “will you respect the dignity of every human being?” And we answer, “I will, with God’s help.” It is an important commitment. Whatever our religious tradition, we can agree on the need to respect one another’s dignity. With God’s help, we can stand together and stand up against bullies who would damage and destroy the lives of LGBT persons, their partners and families and friends. With God’s help, we can offer safety, support and sanctuary to all LGBT persons who are at risk. With God’s help, we can remind our society that every LGBT person is made in the image of God. The world needs our witness.

The Rt. Rev. Mark M. Beckwith, Bishop of Newark
The Rt. Rev. George E. Councell, Bishop of New Jersey

Diocese of New York, 8 Oct 2010:

Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Diocese of New York
No doubt you are aware of the recent widely reported incidences of bullying and invasion of privacy that resulted in the suicides of five young people in California, Indiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Texas. The tragic story of Tyler Clementi, the Rutgers University student who jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge last week, may have struck closest to home. But each of these deaths strikes at the body of Christ, and calls us as Christ’s disciples to answer cruelty and intolerance with loving compassion.

The Episcopal Church has long affirmed the dignity, equality and inclusion of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. That these latest deaths should occur so near to the anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s murder in Wyoming 12 years ago (Oct. 12, 1998) reminds us that there is much work yet to do to instill these values in the communities we serve.

Last month, New York Gov. David Paterson signed the Dignity for All Students Act, which bans harassment and discrimination against students based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, religion, disability and other characteristics, and requires the state’s school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies.

I urge all institutions to be responsive to calls for help and relief by any and all who are threatened and treated with contempt.
Our faith communities must also do our part to uphold our young people, particularly those most vulnerable to intimidation and threats of violence in their schools and neighborhoods. We can begin by condemning the attitudes of intolerance and acts of aggression that deliver too many youth into despair.

I urge you to remember lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in your prayers. May Christ comfort and heal the hearts of those most affected by these recent tragedies. And may their memories inspire us to more vocal expressions of justice, compassion and love.

The Rt. Rev. Mark S. Sisk, Bishop of New York

>Rally To Protect Homeless LGBT Youth – 14 Jun, 6:30 pm at Union Sq

  By Chap James Day | June 2, 2010 - 3:06 pm | Uncategorized
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Co-Sponsored Event
Where: Union Square
When: 6:30pm, 14 Jun

On Monday, June 14th at 6:30PM, numerous prominent LGBT and progressive leaders and organizations will come together at a highly anticipated rally at Union Square in support of the LGBT Homeless Youth community. Comedian, singer, actress, author and out lesbian Sandra Bernhard will speak along with Iraq Combat Veteran and gay rights activist Dan Choi, as well as youth representatives from various organizations serving young LGBT people.
As LGBT youth find the courage to come out of the closet at younger ages, thousands are being rejected by their families and forced out of their homes. Most homeless LGBT youth describe having suffered violence and harassment in their homes due to their sexual orientations and gender identities. As many as 40% of the homeless youth in the United States are LGBT. Homeless LGBT youth are subjected to violence and harassment on the streets and in mainstream youth shelters. They face tremendous risk of HIV infection, drug addiction, and criminalization.
This phenomenon of thousands of LGBT youth being forced from their homes due to homophobia, stripped of economic support, and made to endure homelessness represents the most terrible cruelty and intolerance currently directed at the LGBT community. “Any community has an obligation to protect its youth when they are being hurt and attacked,” says Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of Ali Forney Center, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. “We call on the LGBT Community to stand up for our youth suffering on the streets, and advocate that they receive the protection and care that all young people need and deserve.”
We call on the members of the LGBT Community, our straight allies, and on all decent people who believe that youths should not be thrown to the streets for being LGBT, to rally in support of the following goals:
  • To show solidarity with homeless LGBT youth, to demonstrate outrage that so many young members of our community face family rejection, violence, and homelessness, and to call on the adult members of the LGBT and allied community to demonstrate increased concern, support and advocacy for our youth.
  • To advocate that local, state, and federal government funding be made available to provide the housing and supportive services needed by homeless LGBT youth so they can escape the streets, and that efforts be funded to prevent LGBT youth from being subjected to violence and rejection in their homes.
  • To advocate that protecting our youth from abuse, rejection, and homelessness be recognized as a major priority in our local and national LGBT advocacy agendas.

The rally is endorsed by many significant local and national community organizations, including: Ali Forney Center, Anyone But Me, Broadway Impact, Broadway Speaks Out, Bronx Community Pride Center, The Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Center for American Progress, The Center for Anti-violence Education, Chris Ryan NYC, CitizeNYC, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah, Covenant House New York, Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund/Give a Damn Campaign, Deconstructive Theatre Project, The Door, Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, FIERCE, Gay & Lesbian Independent Democrats (GLID), Gay Men of African Descent, GLSEN, GMHC, GetEQUAL, Green Chimneys Children’s Services, Hetrick Martin Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Integrity NYC, The LGBT Community Center, Make The Road New York, Manhattan Young Democrats, National Youth Advocacy Coalition, New York AIDS Coalition (NYAC), New York City Anti-Violence Project, The NYC Association of Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Organizations, Out Astoria, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays National, Queers for Economic Justice, Safe Space NYC, Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, Take Back Pride, Talkaboutequality.org, True Colors Residence and West End Intergenerational Residence.
Additionally, the rally is endorsed by many prominent community leaders, including: US Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand D-NY, Carl Siciliano, Sandra Bernhard, Lt. Dan Choi, Joe Jervis, Frankie Grande (Mr. Broadway 2007), Brendan Fay, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, NYC Council Member Lewis Fidler, Ryan J. Davis, Ally Sheedy, Cathy Renna, Marti Thomas (Mr. Broadway 2008), Reverend Irene Monroe, Peter Staley, David Mixner, NYS Assemblymember Micah Kellner, U.S. Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), David Badash, Anthony Hallock (Mr. Broadway 2009), Kai Wright, Rod McCullom, Sassafras Lowrey (Editor of “Kicked Out), NYS Senator Tom Duane, NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm, Charlie Williams (current Mr. Broadway), and NYC Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer.

>Memorial Service and New Homeless Shelter

  By Chap James Day | November 25, 2009 - 4:20 pm | Uncategorized
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[New York City - Manhattan] Integrity joined with The Latino Commission on AIDS, Committee on Solidarity of Jorge Steven Lopez, The LGBT Community Center of New York, The Office of New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Dignity NY, PFLAG NY and the Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields for a Vigil, Memorial Service, and Community Mobilization in Memory of Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado. Jorge Lopez was a gay/trans teen who was brutally murdered in Puerto Rico last week.
Memorial services were held across the continental US as well as Puerto Rico on Sunday.  In New York City, The Episcopal Church of St. Luke in the Fields and Integrity were both invited by the wider community to take leadership roles in the organizing and running of the events.
Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember-Elect Daniel Dromm (both of the LGBT community) spoke against the hatred against our community, which is often harder on the LGBT community of color.  They called for more education and community involvement.  The Rally traveled by candelight to the doors of St. Luke in the Fields where participants were greeted by Integrity members and The Rev. Mary Foulke of St. Luke in the Fields.  There was standing room only as the service began.
Daniel Leyva, the primary organizer of the event spoke about how important it is that the religious community that is supportive of the LGBT community to speak out about these injustices.  Earlier this year, Senator Ruben Diaz, also a Pentecostal minister, led a rally where he brought several thousand Pentecostal ministers and leaders to New York to speak out against the LGBT community and especially in response to Marriage Equality. Mr. Leyva reiterated that not all the religious are like Senator Diaz’s group, and he praised the Episcopal Church and Integrity.
[New York City - Astoria Queens] Episcopal Community Services of Long Island partnered with The Ali Forney Center to  meet basic emergency needs, increase coping and decision making capacities, and assist in planning for the re-integration into community living, of homeless and  runaway youth who identify as LGBT in the New York City area to open the St. Andrew’s Center in Astoria, NY on Monday 23 Nov.
Bishop Larry Provenzano and his wife were in attendance at this opening as were Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilmember-Elect Daniel Dromm (both members of the LGBT community).  The Rev. Charles McCarron and lay leader Michael Meaney (donations coordinator for the project) were instrumental in this partnership with the Ali Forney Center. “I believe that the Ali Forney Center at St. Andrew’s is a wonderful example of how different groups can work together toward the same goal.  The young people we serve are perhaps the most marginalized of the homeless, yet they are young enough to change their lives with some compassionate and non-judgmental help.  As Gay New Yorkers we should all be proud of the work that the Ali Forney Center has been doing for years and I am pleased that the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island has joined in this important work.  It would be fantastic if more people could help the Ali Forney Center to grow and accomplish even more on behalf of our GLBT youth.  One of the quotes I put up on a wall in the center is something I think works for the youth and for the volunteers as well, ‘The purpose of life is a life of purpose’.” said Michael Meany, who organized donations and volunteers to get the project done.
“It really meant a lot to this community to see the Church, or Episcopal Church, stand with the most vulnerable of our community and dedicate time and talent, and almost 500k in funds.  I am so proud of the Diocese of Long Island and grateful to Michael Meaney, Father McCarron and Bishop Provenzano for all their work,” said Chap Day, Province II Coordinator for Integrity USA who was in attendance. “Bishop Provenzano and the Diocese of Long Island are a beacons of hope to the LGBT community here in Queens, and an example of community cooperation that I hope other dioceses will mimic.”
There is an ongoing homeless youth crisis in New York City and nation-wide. In New York City, that number is believed to be between 12,000 and 15,000. Approximately 3,000 to 8,000 homeless youth in New York City are LGBTQ. This calculation is based on research that demonstrates that 20 to 40 percent of all homeless youth identify LGBTQ.
The Ali Forney Center is named for Ali Forney. Ali Forney was a homeless queer teen who was forced to live on the streets of New York during the 1990s. Ali was dedicated to the safety of other homeless queer youth; he was a committed HIV prevention worker, and aggressively advocated that the NYPD investigate a series of murders of the homeless queer youth he had befriended. Ali was an inspiration to those who knew him.  In December of 1997, Ali was murdered on the streets. His tragic death called attention to the atrocious conditions for homeless LGBT youth in New York. Ali’s murderer has never been identified.
The dedication ended with a community reading of a prayer Ali Forney wrote:
I believe that one day, the Lord will come back to get me. Hallelujah.  If I live right, Hallelujah, I will go on to that righteous place. I believe that one day, Hallelujah, all my trails, all my tribulations, they will be over.  I won’t have to worry about crying and suffering no more.  I won’t have to worry about being disappointed, because my God, Hallelujah, is coming back for me.  Whether I am a man with a dress and a wig, My God will love me for who I am!  I might not walk like I’m supposed to walk.  I might not have sex with who I’m supposed to have sex with.  My God will love me for what I am! So don’t worry about me, worry about yourself. Because as long as God believes in me, I’m not worried about what folks say, Hallelujah.

You Can Help With This Project: An Invitation From Michael Meaney:
At the coming season of Our Lord’s birth there are special ways to help.  There is no holiday line in the budget so we depend on generous donations. As we shop for ourselves and gifts, it would be fantastic to remember the sacrifice Our Lord made for us and try to make some sacrifices for others.  Christmas is a particularly difficult time for our teens at the center, perhaps the most marginalized of all the homeless.  In a season often associated with family it is easy to see why young people would have feelings stirred up.  We are asking for gift cards in only ten and twenty dollar denominations to McDonald’s, Target and CVS only.  We want to limit ourselves to these three places so teen jealousy does not appear.  These gift cards will give our teens some buying power that they do not usually experience.  Please send out an email to your family and friends asking for help as well.
Gift cards can be sent to Michael Meaney c/o Zion Episcopal Church 243-01 Northern Boulevard, Douglaston, NY 11363.  Contact me for other donation destinations.  It would be best if donations could be received early, before December 15th, so we know what we have to work with.  The Ali Forney Center at St. Andrew’s will have 16 residents for the holidays and Ali Forney has some 65 residents in their living shelter system to treat this holiday season. coordinating this all can be a difficult task for the Ali Forney team, so we ask that gifts are limited to the pre mentioned items.