In the midst of the gay rights movement of the 1970s, multiple advocacy groups began popping up in cities all across the country. Their mission was simple: help queer youth who are stuck in the foster system find a safe place to live. Traditional foster families and religious group homes were woefully unequipped to handle kids they deemed as “other”.
This led to a constant cycle of children moving through placements at an alarming speed, often lasting only a few weeks. For these kids, stability was a distant dream and they often preferred a life on the street where they could be themselves rather than being placed into another abusive and stifling environment.
The government was faced with a choice - continue this endless cycle or try something new. They reached out to groups like the “Youth Advocates” in Seattle to quietly match queer foster kids with openly gay adults in the area using government funds.
These people weren’t always the most prepared to take in a kid, but they could offer understanding and a safe place to sleep - two things that were sadly, very rare for queer youth. By advertising in gay publications like “The Empty Closet”, these groups were able to place kids throughout the entire country.
“an ongoing battle for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Due to the under-the-table nature of these arrangements, it’s impossible to put an exact number on how many kids were placed throughout this time period, but this act of quiet rebellion is impressive even decades later.
Even now, this issue of safety and lack of belonging is an ongoing battle for the LGBTQ+ community. In the United States alone, there are currently 16 states that still do not have legislation in place that protect LGBTQ+ families from discrimination when trying to foster and adopt. There are currently more than 400,000 kids in the foster system who need a safe home.
While DANDELION is a fictionalized story based on these true events, we feel compelled and excited to shine a light on this piece of lost history.
Image credit: Foster parent and Gay Liberation Front activist, Karen Hagberg, and her partner at the time, Kate, sit on the floor while friends are visiting in the 1970s.( Photo Courtesy of Karen Hagberg )
