01/16/2013

Washington–The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, is launching a partnership with organizations and companies in nine U.S. cities to serve LGBT homeless youth for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

Officially recognized on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 21^st), MLK Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service – a “day on, not a day off.” Its purpose is to empower individuals and communities to bridge barriers and address social problems. As the only national LGBT organization participating in this day of service, HRC is leveraging its over 1 million members and supporters across the country to support an under-served segment of the LGBT community – LGBT homeless youth. While LGBT people make up 3% to 5% of the U.S. population by Census measures, LGBT youth make up 40% of homeless and at-risk youth, a majority of whom are Latino or African American.

“HRC is proud to be a national partner for MLK Day of Service,” said Cuc Vu, HRC Chief Diversity Officer. “Through the service projects that we’ve organized in partnership with local agencies to support LGBT homeless youth, we’re putting our diversity and inclusion values to work to make a difference in the community.” 

HRC is partnering with health and human service providers in nine cities to organize donation drives of items that LGBT homeless youth need and to engage our members and the broader community as volunteers.  Altogether, these service providers help approximately 33,000 LGBT homeless youth each year.  They are Lifeworks (Austin), the Montrose Center (Houston), the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (Los Angeles), Covenant House (New Orleans), the Hetrick-Martin Institute (New York City), one n ten (Phoenix), SMYRC and Q Center (Portland), Larkin Street Youth Services (San Francisco), and Transgender Health Empowerment’s Wanda Alston House (Washington, D.C.).

HRC’s corporate supporters have responded to the call to service.  On a national level, FedEx and Fannie Mae are engaging their employee resource groups to lead donation drives and volunteer recruitment. This is in addition to companies and non-profit organizations that are also leading donation drives and volunteer recruitment on a local level.

For more information visit www.hrc.org/mlkdayofservice, or follow these events on Twitter at #DayofService.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.