WEBVTT

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<v ->When I was younger and closeted and terrified,</v>

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I don't know if I necessarily had a figure

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that I could really look up to and identify with.

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I'm Troye Sivan and I am a musician from Australia.

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[quiet, percussive music]

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<v ->A few stereotypes that people have about homelessness</v>

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is that we ride the train, we don't do anything

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with our lives, we're all stupid, we're all ugly.

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Like, bitch, no.

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Look at me, I'm homeless, and I'm amazing.

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Just imagine you being 19 or even 21, and 30 degrees outside

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and you're outside in the cold, sleeping on a train.

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That doesn't happen to everyone.

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<v ->I decided to leave to be free and be able</v>

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to fully express who I was.

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My house was not a safe place for that.

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<v ->Exploiting yourself just to have somewhere to stay.</v>

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And some people end up being HIV-positive,

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ending up in domestic violence, or being pregnant

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and being homeless.

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I'm an advocate for LGBTQ homeless youths.

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<v ->Compared to these kids who are my age, and you're</v>

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now using life as a platform to help others,

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it's the coolest thing in the world to me.

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[phone ringing]

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I'm at the Ali Forney Center in New York City

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to come and meet with some inspiring LGBT homeless youth.

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Would you guys mind giving me a little tour of the place?

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<v All>Yeah, sure!</v>

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<v ->You want to start back there, like the art room?</v>

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<v ->Yeah.</v>

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<v ->As a community, we've come so far, but we clearly</v>

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have a very long way to go.

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Now it's my job, and our job, to keep pushing that forward

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and keep moving things in the right direction.

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<v ->Action.</v>

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<v ->Hey, what's up?</v>

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This is Troye Sivan and I'm at the Ali Forney Center

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in New York.

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So Nicole, what is the Ali Forney Center?

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<v ->The Ali Forney Center is a housing and social service</v>

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organization for 16 to 24-year olds who identify

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as LGBTQ and are experiencing homelessness,

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or unstable housing.

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<v ->So I guess I want to start, first, can everyone</v>

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just tell me a little bit about who they are,

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and what life was life before the Ali Forney Center?

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<v ->Life before Ali Forney Center was a little bit gloomy</v>

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because I was in a stuck situation.

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<v ->Main reason why I came here in the first place was</v>

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because domestic violence.

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I lost my mother, she keeps me strong, she's the reason

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why I am the person I am today.

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And my father didn't raise my to be weak.

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I've always been a fighter.

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<v ->It has been like a roller coaster ride.</v>

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I'm a Jamaican, gay, black man.

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Jamaica has nothing like this.

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Just imagine a life of being LGBT, and not having a shelter,

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and being homeless and being discriminated from your

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family and friends.

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<v ->What are some misconceptions that you guys would say</v>

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the world has about the homeless population?

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<v ->I's a lot harder for you to find places that are suitable</v>

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for you, being LGBT, and feel safe.

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<v ->Also, homelessness doesn't discriminate.</v>

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It can happen to anyone.

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<v ->There's also many layers that people</v>

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don't really know about.

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Criminalization is tied, and I don't think

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poverty should be criminalized.

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<v ->What are some nuances that you would say</v>

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are specific to being LGBTQ and homeless?

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<v ->A lot of times people say there's a lot of hope,</v>

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but when you try to access that hope, there's always

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that bureaucratic tie to you, and you're like

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now I can't access it because I don't have an i.d.

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<v ->The services that are available in the city</v>

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are not available elsewhere.

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<v ->And then we should probably bring in the conversation</v>

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around access and privilege, because I've met

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a lot of black and brown youth whose parents love them

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and accept them, but who cannot provide.

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<v ->Unfortunately, homelessness and sex work seem to go</v>

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often hand in hand.

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<v ->It becomes a bad practice, it becomes a bad habit.</v>

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<v ->You try to get a job, but you can't because</v>

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of your identity that, unfortunately, pushes you

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to have to use whatever resource you have,

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and a lot of times that's your body.

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And a lot of times people feel so disconnected

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from their body that it's like, it's okay for me

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to do this at this point.

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<v ->How can people like myself or people watching this video</v>

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help make a difference for LGBTQ homeless youth.

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<v ->More allies the better.</v>

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And more youth voices the better, also.

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<v ->I think the thing that never ceases to inspire me</v>

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and amaze me is young queer people and the fight

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that they innately have in them.

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<v ->My biggest dream, though idealistic, is to ultimately</v>

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end youth homelessness.

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<v ->My biggest dream for myself is to hopefully one day</v>

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have a community space where I am engaging and empowering

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and educating the community.

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<v ->I'm really happy these days.</v>

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A lot has been happening for me, and so many opportunities

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have been coming my way, like internships and jobs

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and things like that, and being able to go out there

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and advocate for my community.

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<v ->I think taking an active role right now</v>

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is more important than ever.

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If you can help out, help out.