June 2022

Pride Month and Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Child Welfare

By Oscar Ramirez
County of Orange Social Services Agency

In the United States, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is observed in June and commemorates the history, culture and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Born out of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, President Bill Clinton formally
recognized June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 2000. In 2021, President Joe Biden expanded the observance to include LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

According to a Children’s Bureau and Child Welfare Information Gateway fact sheet, approximately 30 percent of children and youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. These youth face additional challenges such as violence and other stressors unique to the LGBTQ+ community. Given the overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care, Pride Month serves as a reminder of the social struggles youth face. It also presents an opportunity for caregivers to learn about available services and resources.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) needs families who can provide a safe and loving home for LGBTQ+ youth. Becoming a  resource parent is one of the most impactful ways to help LGBTQ+ youth in Orange County. For information about the approval process, click here, or stop by SSA’s information booth at the OC Pride Parade & Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2022.

Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Foster Youth Rights Handbook
LGBTQ Center Orange County
Orange County Health Care Agency’s Community Counseling & Supportive Services
PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays)