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National Foster Care Month: Tristan’s Story
This year, HRC is proud to mark National Foster Care Month with the launch of HRC Foundation and FosterClub’s #FosterEquality campaign. Throughout the month, we have shared stories of LGBTQ youth in foster care and agencies that are working to improve their practices with LGBTQ youth. Today, as National Foster Care Month comes to a close, we highlight the story of Tristan Torres and his experiences in Las Vegas’ foster care system.
As a young and “out” transgender man, Tristan Torres faced rejection and trauma in both of his placements in the foster care system.
In my new foster home, discrimination endured and things didn’t end on good terms. After a family member learned I was transgender, the foster parents withheld food from me.
Unfortunately, we know from child welfare experts like the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association that transgender youth face particularly poor treatment in the foster care system and too often find themselves targets of harassment.
Tristan displayed incredible resilience and shared his biggest takeaway from the foster care system.
Advocating for myself was the most difficult part of being in the foster care system, but it’s also a vital skill to learn.
While it is certainly commendable that Tristan was resilient and learned how to advocate for himself, it is unacceptable that Tristan and many LGBTQ youth struggle to find supportive services and a supportive home environment because of who they are.
I know not all foster children could brave similar encounters that I endured, and many would have taken their lives if they didn’t have the same or similar resources as I was fortunate enough to find (and they often don’t).
HRC’s All Children – All Families project works with foster care agencies around the country to build their capacity to provide inclusive services and resources for LGBTQ youth in the foster care system.
You can read Tristan’s full story here.
Read more stories from LGBTQ youth in foster care on HRC’s blog and share these stories to raise awareness about the experiences of LGBTQ foster youth.
www.hrc.org/blog/national-foster-care-month-tristans-story?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
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