My mom asked me to get my stuff and leave . . . I didn't know what to do or where to go, 'cause it was a small town and there was nobody there to help me. Ginger had tried to keep her sexual orientation a secret. Verna Eggleston is the executive director of Hetrick Martin Institute, a New York City agency serving gay and lesbian youth. Without a home, or family, these teenagers often pay devastating price for their sexual orientation.
Experts say about a third of all teenage suicide attempts are by gay and lesbian kids.
Maybe it comes with some adult saying I'll give you a bed. I'll give you a hot meal. You can stay at my house. Ms. Eggleston says most parents think they are doing the right thing by throwing their child out. They think they're parenting.