Rally for Homeless LGBT Youth, Union Square, NYC

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.

On June 14th 2010, hundreds of people including progressive community leaders, organizations and celebrities converged in Union Square Park in a show of support for the issues that homeless LGBT youth face. 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."

This momentous rally took place less than a week after the Ali Forney Center had one of their shelters defaced by vandalism including the words "We don't want gay people here" graffitied on the shelter wall.

Hundreds of passionate participants gathered to rally for these common goals set for by the Ali Forney Center:

*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.


Ali Forney Center is doing great work in the LGBT Community. Hat's off to Carl Siciliano for being such a fierce leader for these youth!

To learn more about the Ali Forney Center, visit www.aliforneycenter.org.

Comedian, Actress and Activist Sandra Bernhard.



Youth at the rally.





Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of The Ali Forney Center for LGBT homeless youth. Siciliano has been working with homeless youth in New York City since 1994.



Graphic image of Ali Forney.



Invest in LGBT Youth!



Youth at the rally.





Lt. Dan Choi



Lt. Dan Choi is an American infantry officer in the United States Army who has served in combat in the Iraq war during 2006-2007. He became an LGBT rights activist following his coming out on the The Rachel Maddow Show in March 2009 and has been publicly challenging America's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which forbids lesbian, bisexual and gay (LBG) service members from serving openly.

UPDATE! On October 19th, 2010 Lt. Dan Choi began his re-enlistment process into the military a day after U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips declared "Don't Ask, Don't Tell un-constitutional. For the first time in the nation's history, openly gay and lesbian men and women can serve in the U.. Military.











NYC Councilman John Liu addressing the crowd.




Chosen Family

A return to black and white

It's been a minute since I shot in black and white. i kinda miss it. Today was the perfect day for me to shoot in! Misty rain, an overcast sky producing diffuse, six o'clock light helped to create the mood of the images.

Young baller's



Skateboard kid




Family outing in front of the building.




A walk home from school



Repair

Iconic Legacy

Random City

Taxi!



Bachelor Party Crew



Kids, just being kids



Shooting for love



Dred smoking pipe.



Street Art



Olde New York Cobblestone street.



"No Pictures PLEASE!" Transgender Reality TV "actress" Laverne Cox.



Asadullah Muhammad.



Perch.



Street Art, as seen on the walls and doors in SOHO.



Fascination with beads, trinkets and jewelry.



Untitled.



Lone sax player.






Haitian-American poet and activist, Assoto Saint, remembered in this street exhibition in the windows of NYU. Saint died in 1994 after a decades-long battle with AIDS.

Pathways through life

These pictures are Inspired by the journey that we know as "life", and the paths we take to realize our dreams. Every path may not be straight,..the ground may be unsteady, but we eventually get to where we need to be either as a result of us following the illuminated path or the circumstances that befall us as a result of taking a wrong turn along the way, or even distracted by fear.

The paths we take in life and love are not certain; we never know what's waiting for us around the bend, or even if we have the will to make a new discovery. Some of us find our way, and some of us will always be lost. One thing's for sure, the pathways are plenty, but the choice is yours. Which path will you choose? And will it be illuminated, or will it be dark?

Happy Mother's Day!

To all Haitian ma's and grandma's: The struggle is real, but so is your love. You're so SPECIAL, you get to celebrate twice! "Haitian" Mother's Day is May 28th!

After the quake: Faith, Worship and Healing in Haiti

Haitian's are people of intense faith, practicing traditions in Roman Catholicism and/or Vodou. It is no surprise then, that the earthquake of January 12th would hardly "break" Haitian people. Indeed, the tragedy that killed so many was devastating in scope and magnitude, but for the survivors left with the remains, the spirit of hope, thankfulness, and renewal reigns supreme.

As I nursed a migrane headache in my tent, trying to get some decent sleep (the night the air-conditioner broke down and mosquitos hovered about), I heard the most uplifting singing in the distance. Our sleeping tent was situated right next door to the medical wards, also in tents. The singing became progressively louder as it seemed more people had joined in the singing.

I was immediately struck with a feeling of needing to be as close to the people singing as possible. I jumped out of my cot, and darted off in the darkness, to the patient (Med/Surg) ward where the singing had been coming from. Upon entering the ward, I felt something intensely spiritual...almost like the presence of God. I was immediately drawn to the center of the large ward, (poto mitan la), and allow myself to be enveloped by the energy of over nearly 80 patients singing inspirational songs of hope, courage and thankfulness. A preacher led the songs and prayers , walking about the large ward, offering blessings, prayers and encouraging everyone to sing loudly and proudly. This was a deeply moving experience for me. It was uplifting, sad, courageous, inspiring, happy and life affirming all at at the same time. I felt like I was home. These injured people are my family, my blood. It was Thanksgiving...