Aloha & happy Pride Month! As a family service agency, we wish to extend our aloha to our LGBTQ friends and allies who are workers, collaborators, and clients of NPP. We often serve non-traditional families and keiki, and we support the struggle for equality with our friends and allies.
So far, 2021 has been the worst year for anti-trans legislation. We stand in solidarity both with LGBTQ caretakers and keiki who are often at risk in our society of unfair policies and lack of community understanding. This year, local legislation in Hawai’i was quietly passed denying trans children the right to play sports on their appropriate team, and in other states, additional trans-phobic legislation that will harm families and children is being considered. It’s important for our communities to speak out against anti-LGBTQ policies.
“I think there’s a lot of reasons that we’re seeing this escalation of attacks on the LGBTQ community and particularly on the trans community. It’s part of a continued backlash from marriage equality. So when the Supreme Court struck down bans on marriage for same-sex couples in 2015, you immediately saw a backlash in the form of legislative attacks on trans people and trans youth in particular.” -Chase Strangio, Deputy Director for Transgender Justice for the ACLU LGBT & HIV Project
LGBTQ individuals are at higher risk of homelessness, often due to family abuse and neglect through rejection. LGBTQ youth are also at higher risk of depression and suicide. These outcomes are not fair or acceptable. Every child deserves a home and love from a family, and outdated beliefs about orientation must be changed to save lives.
NPP is proud to serve families in our community with sensitivity and respect, and we advocate for a better world where LGBTQ families and children are safe from persecution.
This month, NPP will be participating in the Hilo LQBTQ Pride Drive-By Parade, where you can meet staff and get program information at our table. We appreciate those who stop by to say hi, either to support our mission or apply for family support services.
This month NPP is offering a promotional program where new families joining the resource center can get a $50 Walmart gift card for household supplies. Our resource center is great for getting parents supplies and support they may need for raising happy and healthy keiki.
Resources:
https://hawaiiislandlgbtqpride.org/events
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
The Trevor Project suicide prevention lifeline- 1-866-488-7386
Further Reading: