14 T m a rch 2 1 . UM»7 T ju s t out
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t’s not so much that the content of the
According to White, the three young women—
stories was so striking, but rather the raw
who attend Lincoln, Grant and Catlin Gable
honesty with which they were told. So says
schools—“are out to varying degrees.” She says
Lolenzo Poe, director of the Multnomah
that each of the young men had at some point been
County Department of Community and
kicked out of unsupportive homes.
Family Services.
One youth offered his account of life on the
He and a handful of sexual minority youth,
streets, which included the need to occasionally
concerned citizens, and other social service pro
prostitute for survival.
viders, came together in late February for what in
“He talked about how incredible it was for him
essence became an informal chat session at Met
to be sitting in a room with 20 gay men and
ropolitan Community Church in Northeast Port
lesbians who were healthy and successful—like it
land.
was something he had never experienced before,”
Participants plunked down on the couches and
says White. “His story drove home the point of
floor and shared their stories with Poe, whose
why we were there.”
department has sponsored similar community
One of the lesbian youth, meanwhile, said she
forums for other marginalized communities, but
felt enormous support from the dyke community.
no such sitdown with queer youth— until now,
There was little talk of tight budgets and
that is.
funding issues facing government.
Six sexual minority youth— three young
"This was aimed at making levels of govern
women and three young men—talked candidly
ment aware of these young people,” says White.
about their experiences as queer youth at school,
“Our department serves children and families and
on the streets, with family and community.
that has got to include these young people and
According to Poe, the gathering was a way to
their families.”
open up the lines of communication with queer
Poe agrees, and maintains he wants to learn
youth and learn how the county may play a role in
more: “What is our role? How can we assist?”
assisting these young people.
He also says even though there is a push to
“Nothing really surprised me in terms of the
slash budgets due to the passage of Measure 47, a
challenges they face,” he says. “However, I was
cut-and-cap property tax limitation measure ap
surprised by the level of pain and urgency I heard
proved by voters last November, government
in some of their stories.”
He adds youth expressed a
desire “for some common
sense things” such as a place
where they can come to
gether to socialize.
Chris White, an out les
bian who handles contracts
and evaluations for the
county D epartm ent of
Community and Family
Services, helped orches
trate the meeting along with
co-worker Jo Storsberg.
“We felt that queer youth
issues were not getting heard
all the way up through man
agement. We wanted [Poe]
to have a picture of these
kids in his mind and our
goal was to help paint that
picture,” she says.
White says the two-hour
event was situated in a cozy
setting— M CC’s family
room. To keep the discus
sion comfortable and flow
ing, attendees were asked Citizens and social service providers met at Metropolitan Community
to talk about why they were Church in Portland
there rather than what they do for a living (or what
should assess how it spends (and possibly redi
their professional stake may be).
rect) its existing dollars.
Jim Clay, a staffer with the Multnomah County
According to Storsberg, the county currently
Commission on Children and Families, likened
provides funding to support a case manager who
the evening to a “roving conversation” that al
specifically works with queer youth, as well as to
lowed young people to speak freely about their
various sexual minority youth groups and Out
experiences.
side In.
“[MCC’s the] Reverend Roy Cole asked if the
Others suggest that the adult gay and lesbian
adults could step back and let the young people
community take a more active role in reaching out
take the floor and everyone took him up on that,” to queer youth and provide resources to meet their
he says.
needs. •
According to Storsberg, a lesbian mother
“This is in the truest sense a collaborative
shared her concerns about the lack of safe social
effort,” Poe says, adding that the next step may be
options for her 14-year-old lesbian daughter. One
to “go back to the group and identify people” who
young man talked about his gay foster parents.
want to further explore ways to improve the
“It shouldn’t be so incredible that a [gay]
opportunities for sexual minority youth.
youth has gay foster parents. That’s the way it
“Our job in part may be to facilitate that,” he
should be,” Storsberg says.
says.
P H O TO B Y U N D A KLIEWER
ASSOC I A TION!
r
Multnomah County sits down to chat about ways it can
facilitate opportunities for sexual minority youth
SOFTMU I
PORTIAMO,OREGON
5SÌ
How can we help?