Gay Youth Resources

       This page is NOT intended to be a definitive list of resources, but I will try to make it a useful starting point for you and me. This page will be a work in progress. Un-described links have been collected or sent in to me, but have not been rated or reviewed, so use with caution.

Coming Out

• "The Advocate": "The national gay and lesbian newsmagazine." I have only looked at one issue, but it seems like it could be a viable first dabble into gay "culture" (not going to debate the existence or lack thereof of that term here).
• Gayscape's Coming Out Links: Gayscape has a pages of links to sites involving the coming out process. Some are even rated (although I do not know who rates or what the ratings are based on, so caveat emptor).
• Get-Out!: A collection of true coming out stories. The site is NOT aimed at pushing people to come out, but rather to let them know what coming out could be like so that they can make a decision right for them.
• Human Rights Campaign: You may have heard of this group and thought, "Oh, way too radical/political for me," but their site is a potential way for you to educate yourself on national issues pertinent to queer individuals. They also have a really helpful and FREE online copy of their publication "Resource Guide to Coming Out," which talks about what coming out entails, some famous individuals who have come out, and possible places to look for additional support or information (including a list of books and religious organizations).
• Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund: "Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work." They are composed of lawyers all over the nation.
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force: "The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) is a leading progressive civil rights organization that has supported grassroots organizing and advocacy since 1973."
• National Youth Advocacy Council: I had some trouble connecting with their site, but my connection is sometimes buggy.
• !OutProud! (National Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgendered Youth): A book list, a database of queer resources around the nation in YOUR area (QueerAmerica), message boards, and other good stuff!
• P-FLAG (Parents, Familes and Friends of Lesbians and Gays): "Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights"
• Queer Resource Directory: In their own words: "The QRD (short for Queer Resources Directory) is an electronic library with news clippings, political contact information, newsletters, essays, images, hyperlinks, and every other kind of information resource of interest to the GLBO community."

Suicide

• 1-800-999-9999: The Nineline from Covenant House.
• 1-800-621-4000: The National Runaway Switchboard. 1-800-621-0394 (TDD)

• Youth Suicide Prevention Information: From the LA Unified School District Student Health and Human Services Division. Some information on warning signs of the suicidal, how parents can talk to children, and phone numbers (mostly for LA area resources).
• San Francisco Suicide Prevention Hotline: Not a cheap call if you don't live in San Fran, but there are also some links on depression and suicide warning signs (P.L.A.I.D. P.A.L.S.)
• SA\VE: Claim the #1 cause of suicide is untreated depression. Have several educational brochures you can have sent to you. Mission is to educate about prevention and to advocate for suicide survivors.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Not a site for crisis intervention. Suicide statistics, and other info. Dedicated to supporting research and spreading awareness.
• Suicide Prevention Advocacy Network: Not a site for crisis intervention. They seek to lobby Congress to push suicide as a national health crisis and to increase awareness of the problem. They have a few links to crisis lines.
• Suicide Prevention Fact Sheet: Not a site for crisis intervention. Put out by the CDC. Some statistics, reports, and plans for a national prevention center.
• Suicide Prevention/Outreach Center: Get St. Josephs to come and give a presentation. Learn about depression and suicide. A few phone numbers for Hotlines.

Runaways, Throwaways, and Homelessness

• 1-800-999-9999: The Nineline from Covenant House. They won't tell you what to do. Rather they seek to help you do what's best for you. They can guide you to a shelter or other local resource, can pass on a message to your parents without telling where you are, or can even set up a conference call between you and your parents with a mediator.
• 1-800-621-4000: The National Runaway Switchboard. Similar to Covenant House. 1-800-621-0394 (TDD)

• National Runaway Switchboard: The NRS site has links to programs in all 50 states. It is a volunteer run, non-profit service. They seem to offer a broader variety of services than Covenant House in terms of things beyond referrals. They have many programs of their own.
• Covenant House: The largest privately funded child care agency in the United States.
• an unofficial list of national hotline numbers
• Greyhound's Home Free Program: Greyhound will bus runaways back home for free if you are: under 18, you're returning to your legal guardian, your guardian sends a copy of the missing child report to Greyhound, and a few others.
• Oxford University Homeless Action: The young man in question was from the UK. I am trying to locate better links there and in Australia and Canada, but no luck so far. Send me one if you have one, please!
• International Homeless Discussion List and Archives: Low graphic set of links to various sites interested mostly in ending homelessness.

Child Abuse

• 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) From Childhelp USA. (1-800-222-4453 T.D.D.)
• 1-800-999-9999 Covenant House Nineline.
• 1-800-448-3000 Boys Town Hotline. Also availbale in Canada.