A new organization gives support to LGBTQ youth.

By Ali Krogman
[email protected]

A new Iowa coalition is working to advocate on behalf of LGBTQ-identified youth in the juvenile court and welfare systems.

AFFIRM, a coalition made up of six organizations across Iowa, advocates for change in policies and legislation for LGBTQ youth placed outside of their home — which typically means youth in foster care, congregated care, or detention and substance abuse facilities.

In Iowa City, the number of LGBTQ youth who are homeless, whether in foster care or on the street, is unknown, said Iowa City police Detective Andrew Rich, who is also liaison between the Iowa City police and the LGBT community.

Penny McGee, the statewide recruitment leader for Iowa KidsNet and AFFIRM co-founder, said there is a gap in policies when it comes to youth’s specific needs related to gender identity, like home placement and gender identity confidentiality.

“In situations where a youth discloses their identity to a case worker, there are not policies that would require the environment they are referring the youth into is an environment referring to their identity,” McGee said. “Currently there are no state guidelines around this.”

McGee said it’s left up to individual agencies to determine best practices with how to deal with LGBTQ clients.

Another issue McGee is concerned with is the lack of training DHS and social workers receive on how to deal confidentially with LGBTQ individuals.

“It’s one of the factors that’s really scary to me,” McGee said. “Elective training is now offered to DHS workers, but the juvenile court does not have any training.”

Rich said the Iowa City police liaison officers go through at least eight hours of training through the university to help create a safe place for people to go if they identify as LGBTQ.

The training includes a history of the LGBTQ movement and current trends that affect how people who identify as LGBTQ approach law enforcement.

Another resource in Iowa City for LGBTQ individuals is the LGBT Resource Center at the University of Iowa.

Roy Salcedo of the UI Multicultural Programs and Cultural Centers said all of the centers on campus welcome everyone who walks in the door.

“We try to provide a home away from home,” Salcedo said. “We really try to provide hospitality when people walk into the door and make language and spaces inclusive.”