The next major news outlet to tackle Atlanta’s LGBT homeless youth problem? Al Jazeera America.
The network aired a story called “Gay, Homeless, and Surviving on the streets of Atlanta” on their flagship show “America Tonight” on Sept. 24, featuring a heavy dose of Atlanta LGBT homeless youth organization Lost-N-Found Youth.
This is another in a string of national and international exposure for Atlanta’s homeless LGBT youth problem and Lost-N-Found in particular, following an article in Rolling Stone magazine and a story on the BBC. The issue went worldwide after the incident involving Daniel Pierce, the young gay man attacked by his family after he came out—an incident which was recorded on video and subsequently went viral.
In the Al Jazeera America report, Lost-N-Found Outreach Director Art Izzard takes reporter Adam May on a tour of the most common areas that they find the homeless youth.
Lost-N-Found graduate Ryan Peterson then walks May down Cheshire Bridge Road, where he says he used to frequent, using and dealing crystal meth and crashing on couches. Lost-N-Found helped Peterson get off the streets and off drugs.
Lost-N-Found Executive Director Rick Westbrook gives the reporter a tour of the future home of the organization, where a recent open house was held.
View Part One and Part Two of this report on Al Jazeera America here.
psaunders@thegavoice.com | @patricksaunders