As we worked to open the Ali Forney Center, I was haunted by the fact that the movement for LGBT equality did not address the needs of LGBT kids who are rejected by their families. LGBT kids who fell victim to family rejection were left to fend for themselves in the streets.

This past weekend over 20 churches and synagogues in New York City sounded the alarm on the LGBTQ youth homelessness crisis. We continue to demand that our government commit to our young people, and commit to funding safe shelter for our homeless.

Family rejection and its tragic consequences are hardly new problems. But for many years, providers and advocates for homeless LGBT youth have, for many reasons, focused on the youth themselves, giving little attention to their families.