RainbowYOUTH General Manager Duncan Matthews will sleep rough this July to highlight the plight of homeless queer and gender diverse youth. He’s taking part in the Lifewise Big Sleepout, an Auckland fundraising initiative where participants see what it’s like to spend a night under the stars, with only a sleeping bag and a piece of cardboard for bedding. “While there is no nationally representative study, those that do exist suggest that lgbtiq people are over represented in youth homelessness stats - a theme that is repeated across many negative wellbeing indicators in Aotearoa,” Matthews says. “For me, being made homeless, albeit temporarily, is a choice. For most young lgbtiq Kiwis who have been made homeless as a result of life circumstances, being homelessness is not a choice. It is a devastating reality that demands a compassionate response.” Matthews says all the cash he raises will go directly to Lifewise’s unique “no band aids” approach to homelessness. “The Lifewise response continues to be Auckland’s most successful answer to the issue of homelessness, and their involvement and support of organisations like RainbowYOUTH give me confidence they are compassionate to those who are lgbtiq.” You can donate here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 20th May 2015 - 3:25pm