Shelter Number One...

Ali Forney was a homeless transgendered teen forced to live on the streets of New York in 1990's. Ali was dedicated to the safety of other homeless queer youth, a committed HIV prevention worker (he bragged about being HIV negative), and aggressively advocated that the NYPD investigate a series of murders of homeless queer youth that he had befriended. In December of 1997, Ali was murdered on the streets. His murderer has never been identified. He was 21.

I contacted the center that was named for him this weekend. I wanted to know some facts about them aside what I could find on the website. I chatted briefly with Carl Siciliano the executive director of the Ali Forney Center. He has no cases of prosecution, or statistics he could refer to. This was his reply in regards to my question:

"When we encounter someone under the age of 18 who is not in the care of their parents we notify the New York State office of Children and Family Services. If parents are found to be neglecting or abusing their kids it can result in legal consequences including the placement of their other children in the foster care." -- Carl Siciliano

It can? Can result? What about does result? Do these children's dead beaten bodies actually have to be removed from the home before ANYONE is held accountable?? Mr. Siciliano and those youth shouldn't have to cross their fingers that something will be done. Mr. Siciliano shouldn't have to call in every favor he can just to get some celebrity to show up at his fund raising event to support the home and foundation he cares for. The money should be pouring in. Oh and read this little outdated statistic:

From 1995 to 1997, the [N.Y.] Department of Youth and Community Development failed to spend nearly $1 million it had budgeted for housing for homeless youths, which resulted in a loss of an additional $1.5 million in matching funds from the state. The department says it will leave $450,000 unspent in 1998, because shelters are unpopular with neighborhoods. --The New York Times

There is currently estimated 12,000 to 20,000 homeless youth on the street in New York City. That is a shit load of kids scrounging for food in dumpsters, sleeping on subway trains, trickin' on Coney Island, smokin' $5-$10 vials of crack in back alleys, that is gotta be...what...lets say 100,ooo tears shed by them in fear, self pity, doubt, lack of faith, dispair? How many of those have been shot dead, their killers never found? I am freaking lucky, tell you what.

Ali Forney Center for Homless GLBT Youth:
Our mission is to help homeless LGBT youth be safe and become independent as they move from adolescence to adulthood. Too many of these youth are rejected by their families and the broader community, and are thus forced to survive on the streets, facing the dangers of violence, HIV infection and homophobia. AFC is committed to providing homeless LGBT youth with the services they need to thrive, including shelter, HIV prevention and vocational training.
(there are currently only 18 beds at the AFC...they hope to have 24 by the end of the year)

www.aliforneycenter.org Hit up the website, donate even if it is canned food...they need it!