Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a yearly memorial to transgender people who lost their lives to violence. Reports of homicides of transgender people have increased over the last years as families and friends of trans victims refuse to allow their identities to be erased. This year in Florida we remember with sadness India Clarke from Tampa, Vanessa Santillan from Miami, and Kristina Reinwald from Miami.
It is therefore deeply meaningful that today the Florida Department of Children & Families published its latest draft of group home rules incorporating protections for trans and gay youth, so that foster youth in group care can live openly, safely, and without discrimination or fear in their own homes. The rules are the result of hard work and dedication by the LGBTQ Child Welfare Network, a group of advocates and good people at DCF and other agencies who are standing up for LGBTQ youth across the state.
If you would like to join the LGBTQ Child Welfare Network and get more information on advocacy efforts for Florida’s LGBTQ youth in out-of-home care, you can do so by clicking here.
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