Strides for Pride: Show Love for LGBTQ+ Youth at Covenant House

Every young person’s experience of homelessness is unique. But one thing that unifies many of the youth who come to Covenant House for help is disconnection. Losing support of families and communities goes hand in hand with homelessness for young people.

So, it’s heartbreaking, not surprising, that LGBTQ+ youth experience homelessness at rates more than double those of their peers. Acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community has come a long way, but queer and trans people — especially youth — still experience widespread discrimination and hate today. For all too many queer youth, that hate leads to homelessness.

Covenant House’s work is to help young people overcome homelessness, regardless of their background. During Pride, we make sure to show extra love and support to LGBTQ+ residents, helping balance out the rejection and stigma so many of them have faced.

The best way you can celebrate our LGBTQ+ youth with us this month is by joining Strides for Pride. Activate your community, get up and move, and show that love is love!

What is Strides for Pride?

Strides for Pride is a one-week long endurance challenge where participants log 40 minutes of activity per day — running, walking, biking, whatever gets you moving — and work to raise $120 or more in support of LGBTQ+ youth overcoming homelessness at Covenant House.

How Does Strides for Pride Help Support LGBTQ+ Youth? 

The challenge we’ve set for our supporters with Strides for Pride highlights the increased risk of homelessness that LGBTQ+ youth face. Here’s the symbolism behind your support:

1. Supporters commit to get up and move for 40 minutes each day during the last week of Pride, recognizing that 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+.

2. Then, they use that commitment to fundraise towards a goal of $120, recognizing that LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their peers.

3. Finally, they log their daily exercise from June 23-29 and know their activity is helping maintain safe havens for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth across North and Central America.

Strides for Pride works just like a walkathon or charity race, except it’s spread out over a whole week and you can join from anywhere in the world. The funds go directly to Covenant House, providing food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, legal aid, and so much more to unhoused youth. 

Pick Whatever Movement Means the Most for You

Participants can choose to get their 40 minutes of movement in whatever way works for them. Walking and running are reliable standbys. Some fundraisers double down on their advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community by marching in Pride parades for their activity! We also see members of the Strides for Pride community take the exercise up a notch with higher-intensity activities, like teaching yoga classes, weightlifting, and kayaking.

But it’s not only about the physical exercise; it’s about the meaning, too. Last year, one Covenant House supporter’s daughter came out as trans just before Pride month. The two of them signed up for Strides for Pride together and used their daily 40 minutes of exercise as mother-daughter bonding time.

And no matter what form the movement takes, the end result is the same: doors stay open 24/7 at Covenant House sites, welcoming in all young people with unconditional love and absolute respect.

How can you get involved? 

1. Register for Strides for Pride today! You can sign up as an individual or create a team with your friends, family, or company. Our fundraising coaches will give you tips and tricks to meet your goal, and you can join the Strides for Pride Facebook group to connect with other advocates.

2. Get moving! - Commit to logging 40 minutes of activity per day between June 23-29, 2025. You can track your activity using your fitness app or entering your minutes manually.

3. Fundraise! - Set a fundraising goal of at least $120 and share with your network.

Start Your Challenge

Unable to register but still want to get involved? No problem, you can help support LGBTQ+ youth by making a donation or contributing to someone’s fundraiser.