繁體 | 简体 | English
The Causes and Consequences of LGBTQ Youth Homelessness: A Case Study of Atlanta, Georgia USA

日期 : 2017-11-29

时间 : 12:30 - 14:00

地点 : Room 422, Sino Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Moderator: Professor SUEN Yiu-Tung

Light refreshments will be provided.


Abstract

Over the past decade, youth homeless has increased significantly in many urban areas and emerged as a major social policy challenge in the U.S.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) youth have been found to be especially vulnerable to experiencing homelessness. Using field survey data from the 2015 Atlanta Youth Count and Needs Assessment (AYCNA), Dr. Wright examines the background and experiences of homeless LGBTQ youth to better understand both why they are especially vulnerable and what the consequences of homelessness are for their health and social well-being. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of ideas to improve strategies for engaging and serving homeless LGBTQ youth as well as recommendations for a multidimensional measurement approach to understand increasingly varied sexual and/or gender identities of urban youth.

Speaker Bio:

Eric R. Wright is a 2nd Century Initiative (2CI) Professor of Sociology and Public Health and Chair of the Sociology Department at Georgia State University.  He holds a BA in sociology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon and an MA and PhD in sociology and human sexuality from Indiana University Bloomington.  As a medical sociologist, his research interests center on social and public policy responses to mental health and illness, substance use and addictions, sexual health, and HIV/STI prevention.  In addition, Dr. Wright is actively involved in conducting research to understand and ameliorate social and health problems and disparities in minority and other vulnerable communities, including homeless youth and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people (LGBTQ).  He has extensive experience in working with community organizations as well as local and state government to better understand community needs and improve the effectiveness of social-, health-, and healthcare-related programs and policies.