Youth Equality Alliance 2019 Year in Review

Download our 2019 Annual Update.

WHO WE ARE

Formed in 2013, the Youth Equality Alliance (YEA) is a statewide coalition of organizations, advocates and activists dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth. We advocate for systemic policy changes to build safe and affirming spaces for all Maryland youth in education, juvenile justice, foster care  and housing. Read more here.

OUR PROGRESS IN:

EDUCATION

• Supported advocacy for the passage of a trans affirming student policy in Baltimore City Public Schools.
• Advocated for the amendment of the Kirwan Commission to include LGBTQ Youth in teacher cultural competence.
• Continued to support GSAs and the expansion of GSAs across the state.

JUVENILE SERVICES

• Developed policy recommendations for improving the treatment of LGBTQ youth in the care and custody of the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS).
• Advocated for a bill ensuring access to pregnancy related services, including at DJS.
• Continue to work with school-based health centers’ sexual and reproductive health requirements.

FOSTER CARE

• Co-authored petition to Secretary Padilla calling for comprehensive protections for LGBTQ youth in Out-of-Home Care, Families, and those otherwise served by the Department of Human Services. This petition calls on the Department to explicitly protect LGBTQ persons from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
• Participated in the drafting of LGBTQ standards of care for Baltimore City to include the Mayor’s Office of Human Services.
• Continued advocacy around the creation of supportive services on college campuses targeted at those youth who are recipients of the tuition waiver as a result of foster care involvement or homelessness.

HOUSING INSTABILITY

• Secured $1 million in funding for the Ending Youth Homelessness grant.
• Advocated for LGBTQ standards of care within youth homeless services in Baltimore City.