This past Sunday our youth, staff and volunteers enjoyed the large crowds, rainbow colors and festive music at New York City's Pride Parade. Pride is all about love, acceptance, celebration. It's also about recognizing the challenges and injustices that the LGBTQ community faces - particularly when it comes to homelessness.

Here at Covenant House, we keep our hearts, our arms and our doors open to LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. We encourage kids to be exactly who they are and we celebrate their uniqueness and individuality. 

In a world where LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness, there is a role for all of us to play in creating a more tolerant and accepting environment for these kids.