The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published guidance stating that discrimination against transgender tenants or homebuyers on the basis of gender identity or gender stereotypes constitutes sexual discrimination and is prohibited by the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Despite this, there is still a lack of awareness that has led to the continued discrimination, eviction, and homelessness of transgender people in the US. To combat this, explicit legal protection against gender identity discrimination is needed at both the state and local levels. In Los Angeles County, approximately 7400 young people aged 12 to 21 receive care outside the home each month.
Of these, 19%, or around 1400, identify as LGBTQ. Mariana Marroquin, program director of the Trans Wellness Center at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, spoke about the resources available to trans people in Southern California. This data is significant as it answers questions about whether LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care and contributes to research on how sexual and gender minority youth face unique challenges compared to non-LGBTQ youth. The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) works with federal and state agencies to ensure that transgender people do not face discrimination in housing and homeless services. However, the lack of systematic data collection on LGBTQ youth in foster care limits the ability of the child welfare system to address the unique challenges of this group.
To gain a better understanding of these challenges, a study was conducted through telephone interviews with 786 randomly selected young people living in foster care in Los Angeles County. The results of this study showed that LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care and face unique challenges compared to non-LGBTQ youth. These include multiple placement, mental health problems, homelessness, and placement in group homes. In addition, LGBTQ people living in the South must contend with homophobia and transphobia due to social and political conservatism, strong evangelicalism, high unemployment, and rurality. Homelessness is also a critical problem for transgender people; one in five transgender people has become homeless at some point in their lives. The Los Angeles County Child Welfare System has a duty to protect young people in foster care from harm and to act in their best interests.
To do this effectively, it is necessary to understand who is part of the system and how different groups of young people may face unique challenges. Non-binary individuals living in Los Angeles County face a number of unique challenges due to their gender identity. These include discrimination when looking for housing, eviction from their homes due to their gender identity, overrepresentation in foster care, multiple placements, mental health problems, homelessness, placement in group homes, homophobia and transphobia due to social and political conservatism, strong evangelicalism, high unemployment, and rurality. In order to address these issues effectively, it is important for both state and local governments to provide explicit legal protection against gender identity discrimination. The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) works with federal and state agencies to ensure that transgender people do not face discrimination in housing and homeless services. The NCTE also provides resources for transgender individuals who are facing discrimination or homelessness.
Additionally, organizations such as the Trans Wellness Center at the Los Angeles LGBT Center provide resources for non-binary individuals living in Southern California. In order for non-binary individuals living in Los Angeles County to be able to access these resources effectively, it is important for both state and local governments to provide explicit legal protection against gender identity discrimination. Additionally, it is important for organizations such as the NCTE and Trans Wellness Center to continue providing resources for non-binary individuals who are facing discrimination or homelessness.
