Abstract

LGBTQ-supportive youth programs provide access to critical resources and social support in identity-affirming environments. In Chicago, Illinois, an informal network of LGTBQ-supportive youth programs in the city’s white, middle-class, gay enclave, Boystown, draws predominately low-income youth of color from across the city who seek emergency shelter, housing, educational assistance, mental health counseling, space to build community with peers, and more. Upon their 25th birthday, however, these young people are abruptly “aged out” of LGBTQ-supportive youth programs, often with little preparation and few safety nets to support their transition into adulthood. Aging out has been examined in other service contexts (e.g., foster care); rarely, however, has it been examined among youth accessing LGBTQ-supportive programs. This article draws on applied thematic analysis of qualitative data from focus groups with young people ages 20-29 (n = 26) and interviews with service providers (n = 10) collected via youth participatory action research to examine how young people experience accessing and aging out of LGBTQ-supportive programs in Chicago. Findings highlight a lack of scaffolding for youth as they age out and extremely limited safe and affirming resources for LGBTQ adults. Recommendations are provided to better support young people in their transition out of LGBTQ-supportive youth services and into adulthood.

摘要

支持 LGBTQ 的青年计划在身份确认环境中提供关键资源和社会支持。在伊利诺伊州的芝加哥，在该市的白人、中产阶级、同性恋飞地博伊斯敦，一个非正式的支持 LGTBQ 的青年项目网络吸引了来自全市寻求紧急避难所、住房、教育援助的主要低收入有色人种青年，心理健康咨询、与同龄人建立社区的空间等等。然而，在他们 25 岁生日时，这些年轻人突然“过时”了支持 LGBTQ 的青年计划，通常没有什么准备，也没有多少安全网来支持他们过渡到成年。老化已在其他服务环境（例如寄养）中进行了检查；然而，很少有人在参加 LGBTQ 支持计划的年轻人中对其进行检查。本文利用对来自 20-29 岁年轻人 (n = 26) 的焦点小组的定性数据的应用主题分析和通过青年参与行动研究收集的对服务提供者 (n = 10) 的采访，以研究年轻人如何体验访问和老龄化来自芝加哥的 LGBTQ 支持计划。调查结果突出表明，随着年龄的增长，年轻人缺乏脚手架，而 LGBTQ 成年人的安全和肯定资源极为有限。提供了建议，以更好地支持年轻人从支持 LGBTQ 的青年服务过渡到成年。