This message was developed by the St. Ignatius Loyola, New York, NY parish ministry as a resource that may be adapted for use in a homily or parish communication.
We are members of the LGBT Catholics and Friends ministry at our parish, and we are writing to urge you to speak to your parish community—especially to families—about the plight of homeless LGBTQ youth.
June is Pride Month—a time that calls us, as people of faith, to examine how we respond to those who feel unseen, unheard, or excluded, and to recommit ourselves to Christ’s call to love and compassion.
Our ministry is rooted in faith, prayer, and service. We seek to build community, offer spiritual enrichment, and serve others—particularly LGBTQ individuals and their families. Through this work, and through conversations with those on the front lines of care, we have come to better understand a painful reality that is often unseen.
LGBTQ youth—children, in many cases—are disproportionately represented among homeless young people in the United States. While estimates vary, studies consistently show that they make up a significant share—often between 20% and 40%—of the homeless youth population, despite being a much smaller percentage of the overall population.
Behind these numbers are real children with real stories.
Many of these young people are not homeless by chance. They are there because they have been rejected by their families after coming out as LGBTQ. In too many cases, that rejection is connected—directly or indirectly—to religious beliefs. Some families have come to believe that being LGBTQ is incompatible with their faith, or that God does not love their child as they are.
The consequences of that belief can be devastating.
Research from groups such as the Family Acceptance Project has shown that LGBTQ youth who experience high levels of family rejection are at significantly greater risk for depression, substance abuse, and suicide. Many are forced to leave their homes or feel they have no choice but to run away. Once on the streets, they face increased risks of exploitation, trafficking, and serious mental health challenges.
The streets are not a place for children.
And yet, this is where too many of them end up—not because they are unloved by God, but because they have come to believe that they are unloved by their families.
As a Church, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to respond.
Parents and families need to hear clearly that their LGBTQ children are not outside of God’s love. They need to hear that their children are to be loved, cherished, and respected as beloved children of God. When that message is not spoken, silence itself can be misunderstood. It can leave space for fear, shame, and rejection to take root.
But when that message is spoken—clearly and compassionately—it has the power to change lives.
Pope Francis spoke directly to this when he said, “God is Father, and he does not disown any of his children.” He reminded us that the Church is a mother who calls together all her children—not a place reserved only for a few.
Our hope is simple: that this message of God’s love will be heard within our parish communities and shared within our families.
We ask you to speak about this with your children and grandchildren—to listen with openness, to lead with love rather than fear, and to help ensure that no child ever feels that they must choose between their family and their dignity, or between their identity and God.
We also offer this letter as a template, in the hope that other parishes might begin similar conversations within their own communities.
Every child deserves the love, care, and stability of a home. Every child deserves to know they are loved—by their family, and by God.
Sincerely,
LGBT Catholics and Friends Ministry
