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HRC Honors Martin Luther King Jr. Day Through Service
Today, HRC is proud to honor Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day as a Day of Service, working to make a difference in the lives of LGBTQ homeless youth in over 20 cities.
Taking place every third Monday in January, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “Day On, Not a Day Off.”
HRC is dedicated to the safety and well-being of our LGBTQ youth. Youth homelessness in the United States is a national crisis in urban, suburban and rural communities affecting nearly 2.8 million youth between the ages of 12 and 24. Consistent research finds that LGBT youth are over-represented among homeless youth, comprising approximately 40 percent of the total homeless youth population even though they make up less than 10 percent of the overall youth population.
That is why this year, HRC members and supporters are donating items or volunteering their time at several shelters and community centers across the nation.
Across the nation, young people cite running away from home or being rejected by their families because of their LGBTQ status as the two most common reasons for being homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless.
While MLK Day of Service comes to an end this evening, HRC will continue to work to prevent youth homelessness through policy and training and technical assistance for service providers across the U.S.
Learn how you can make a difference here.
To learn more about the plight of LGBTQ youth, click here.
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