An unprecedented coalition has come together in the wake of hurricane Katrina,
to establish a fund to assist LGBT youth and families. The national fund, will
help provide direct services -- especially in areas where refugees are heading
-- to many LGBT youth and their families that will be displaced as a result of
the tragedy.
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition, a nationwide organization which works
on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans youth, is helping to coordinate
the effort. "Groups from across the country are banding together to support
this effort," said Craig Bowman, the group's Executive Director. "Coast
to coast the leaders in our movement are supporting efforts to make sure that
the refugees from the this horrible tragedy are cared for," Bowman added.
Groups in the coalition include the Los Angeles
Gay and Lesbian Center, Mautner
Project: The National Lesbian Health Organization, National
Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) , and Pride
at Work. (A complete list of coalition members appears at the end of this
article.) Bowman expressed a gratefulness to the many individuals and organizations
who have come forward in the days following the hurricane to help.
Thousands of GLBT youth and families are expected to be arriving in Houston,
which is one of the locations the group plans to focus resources on. Bowman
told PageOneQ that plans are being made for support teams to go to Texas to aid in
the efforts.
In an appeal for support, the coalition issued a letter which read, in part:
In partnership with many of our colleague organizations around
the country, today NYAC is launching a targeted “Hurricane Katrina
LGBT Relief Fund,” to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our
community receive the critical support they need to regain stability in
their lives.
Working with our national and local community partners, we
will ensure that your financial investment gets into the hands of LGBTQ
young people and LGBTQ families who need it most.
The next few days are critical. No amount is too small to
make a difference.
To go directly to the donations page for this effort, please click here.
To go to the National Youth Advocacy Coalition, please click here.
* * *
Here is the press release issued by the National Youth Advocacy Coalition
about the fund:1
Washington, DC – Working in partnership, the National Youth Advocacy
Coalition (NYAC) today announced the formation of the “Hurricane Katrina
LGBT Relief Fund” to ensure that LGBT youth and families, among the most
vulnerable members of our community, receive the critical support they need
to regain stability in their lives.
“In America, there are dramatic moments that forever shape our national
identity. History remembers those times when we come together in the face of
adversity, putting aside our differences to overcome tragedy,” said Craig
Bowman, Executive Director of the National Youth
Advocacy Coalition.
"Thousands of families have absolutely nothing to go home to and hundreds
more people are still looking for their families," Bowman added. In Louisiana,
in Mississippi and in Alabama the devastation is so unimaginable, so complete,
that solutions seem impossible.
“Like so many of our fellow citizens, however, we believe in the indomitable
spirit of Americans,” Bowman said. “We are awed and humbled by the
spirit of community that has emerged in our country in countless ways over the
past few days; and with this Fund, we honor the courage and hope shown by so
many who are still suffering,” he added.
The coalition consists of national organizations working at the grassroots level
to affect positive social change for LGBT citizens. Contributions to this fund
are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed under law and will support
humanitarian relief for LGBT youth and families from the devastated areas. These
funds will be distributed directly to local organizations in the best position
to ensure strategic and high-impact disbursement of the emergency funds.
Individuals can contribute securely and with confidence now at here.
Donors will be able to find out more about the impact of their gifts in the
coming weeks on a new blog being launched on the NYAC web
site.
* * *
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE (as of 2 September 2005):
More groups are welcome and are signing on all the time.
###
The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
is a social justice organization fighting injustice against LGBTQ youth and
advocating to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.
