The following column appears in the July/August 2026 issue of Boston Spirit Magazine:
Another Pride Month is in the books. For many of us, Pride is a celebration of belonging, providing the chance to be seen, valued, and embraced for who we are. But the work of building a community where every LGBTQ+ person belongs doesn’t stop when the parade ends and the glitter fades. LGBTQ+ youth in foster care are among the most overlooked members of our community, despite facing significant challenges.
Over the past year and a half, the Trump Administration’s horrific attacks on the LGBTQ community have dominated headlines. Meanwhile, an ongoing crisis for LGBTQ youth in foster care continues to unfold—with draconian policies and rhetoric from the federal government and right-wing activists exacerbating longstanding issues for queer foster youth in search of a safe place to sleep, caring and respectful adult caretakers, and a sense of belonging.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the child welfare system; roughly one-third of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQ+, significantly higher than their representation in the general youth population. These young people often experience foster care differently than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to be placed in restrictive group care settings, experience multiple placements, and report mistreatment while in care.
These disparities don’t occur in a vacuum. Economic status, structural racism, and anti-LGBTQ+ bias all affect which children and families become involved in the child welfare system and whether families are separated by the state. Black, Brown, and Indigenous LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in foster care, reflecting broader inequities that continue to affect families and communities in New England and beyond.
The consequences can be profound. Young people who experience foster care face increased risks for homelessness, unemployment, substance use, and involvement with the criminal legal system later in life. LGBTQ+ youth face additional challenges. Research shows that LGBTQ+ youth with a history of foster care involvement are significantly more likely to report attempting suicide than LGBTQ+ youth who have never been in care, with the highest rates reported by transgender and nonbinary youth and LGBTQ+ youth of color.
The good news is that we know what helps young people thrive.
First and foremost, systems must support families through stable housing, economic assistance, and high-quality physical, mental, and behavioral healthcare so that we can keep young people safely at home.
When young people are pulled out of their homes, we must work to ensure they aren’t destroyed by the very system that is supposed to help them. Supportive adults, stable relationships, and affirming environments make a difference. Young people who feel supported are better able to build trusting relationships with caregivers, engage in school, and focus on their future rather than their survival.
That is why child welfare systems must be able to consider the full needs of a child when making placement decisions, including whether a prospective placement can provide a safe and affirming environment for an LGBTQ+ youth. Every young person deserves a home where they will be safe, respected, and supported. For LGBTQ+ youth, affirming placements can provide the stability and belonging necessary for their healing and growth.
We are currently seeing a deeply disturbing effort to roll back protections for LGBTQ+ young people, including the Trump administration’s proposal to rescind federal safeguards for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care, and lawsuits and proposed legislation, including a bill just passed in New Hampshire, that aim to undermine states’ ability to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth in foster care are placed in homes where they will be respected and supported.
We can’t let LGBTQ+ youth in state care become collateral damage in political and ideological attacks. The focus of child welfare systems must be on the safety, wellbeing, and healthy development of every child and on supporting families so children can safely stay or return home. When foster care is necessary, every decision should be guided by what will best support the child and, whenever possible, reunification with their family.
GLAD Law is committed to advancing policies that protect LGBTQ+ youth, support families, and promote fairness within child welfare systems. That means ensuring that LGBTQ+ youth in foster care receive the same opportunity every child deserves: the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and affirming environment. It means ensuring that we recognize, respect, and protect the rights of young people in foster care, as a Massachusetts legislative proposal to create a foster care bill of rights seeks to do.
The measure of our commitment to LGBTQ+ equality isn’t what we celebrate each June, but how we support vulnerable members of our community year-round. LGBTQ+ youth in foster care need and deserve so much more: safe homes, supportive communities, and systems that ensure they know they belong.
More: gladlaw.org
