Inspirational Class Video Project About LGBT Teens Living on the Streets After Coming Out

Posted by Christopher Welch on Dec 8, 2011 in Inspirgaytion | 24 comments

Homelessness among the LGBT community is a huge issue, one that is close to our hearts here at Unicorn Booty. Are you aware that 25-40% of all youth who become homeless identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?

Hard not to get choked up while watching this video from Dustin Nisley, a 22-year-old college student studying for his bachelor degree in social work. Dustin’s story is one that occurs everyday – kids forced onto the streets after coming out to their families.

Dustin completed this video project for his social justice class last week. He outlines the difficult and painful experiences many LGBT teens face coming out and subsequently being kicked out onto the streets.

http://youtu.be/krdvmWFOE9o

While living on the streets, some are forced to make terrible decisions just to survive. Thank you Dustin for opening up our eyes about living on the streets. We all think you deserve an A++!

What do you think, unicorns? How have you or anyone close to you been affected by homelessness?

*Editor’s note: This video has clearly hit a nerve. A few things: Dustin Nisley has been reached out to, the original post has been edited to clarify his role as storyteller and not protagonist, and the potty-mouthed troll cussing up a storm and threatening our readers has been banned from UB. On a personal note, I hope that Dustin does in fact keep the video up (perhaps with a disclaimer in the YouTube information) because the story is a powerful one affecting thousands of teens. It doesn’t get said often on UB, but co-founder Kevin was homeless himself, after being kicked out at age 12 for being gay. Dustin’s story may not be his exactly, but it is the story of many who aren’t in a position to share so openly.

http://www.facebook.com/lancifer.m Lancifer Miller

If I wasn’t so paranoid I’d take in homeless gay youth. No strings outside of they go to school, pick up their shit and get to working. It hurts to see stuff like this and only cements just how lucky I am that my family has been most awesome in dealing with my being gay.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Erica-Cook/100000628613592 Erica Cook

I intend to do just that as soon as I have the money for a home, I want to foster LGBT youth who’ve been kicked out on the streets.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kerry-Nelson/100000482891678 Kerry Nelson

I feel the same way. At least I can educate myself and try to put myself in a position where I can find appropriate resources and help those kids find them.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alicia-Affatato/1096730455 Alicia Affatato

I would be paraniod about taking a complete stranger in…I’d have to know them for a while first

http://www.facebook.com/people/Luinne-DLlard/100001583873176 Luinne D’Llard

I was homeless myself for awhile for the exact same reason.
http://www.facebook.com/peterjohnfredrickroesslerjr Peter Roessler

why aren’t his parents being held accountable for child abuse? He’s 15 and they are his parents.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Luinne-DLlard/100001583873176 Luinne D’Llard

Because he’s gay and this is america. It shouldn’t be called ‘It gets better’. It should be called ‘It gets better if you make it get better’. I wish we could all have peace and civility, but for now, we have to be really good fighters. It isn’t just going to get better; we have to hold out and fight for it to be that way. Then and only then will we be able to rest.

http://twitter.com/sovereignhope Sovereign

What needs to happen is a two-tiered message. Keep telling the youth that it gets better, by all means, but we, as adults, have a responsibility to do everything in our power to MAKE it better for the generations after us.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Karlene-Alvarez/1026206824 Karlene Alvarez

I would be more than happy to call you son!
http://www.facebook.com/dchisholm2474 Devon Chisholm

someone please fine him a home !
http://facebook.com/genxceo Corey Kepler

18 years ago I was this kid. If not for a few good people that crossed my path I would be have been on the streets like this kid. If you can reach you hand out and help a gay youth–do what you can. Every chance I’ve gotten since I’ve been an adult and able–I’ve done just that. It’s truly the “pay it forward” the gay youth community needs.
Anonymous

Dustin, I dont have much but you are welcome to austin…
http://www.facebook.com/citynnature Christopher Sowards

So I don’t get it! Is Dustin still 15 or is he 22? The video says he is 15, but the article above says he is a 22 yr old college student who did this for his social justice class LAST WEEK! What is it Unicornbooty?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=513851361 Dustin Nisley

I am the creator of the video. I did this for a class last week. I am 22, I have never been kicked out of my home for being gay. I’m sure my parents would have liked to but they never did. This video was only meant for my professor and my classmates for my Practicum Seminar. It was for my Social Justice Project and I’m sorry that there was any confusion to UB’s readers. I have changed the privacy settings on the video so you cannot view it unless you have the URL due to the fact that there is a voting going on within my seminar class. It was not my intention to step on anyone’s toes or make a mockery of LGBT youth who are actually dealing with the issue of homelessness. My original intention of this video was to bring light to the situation of LGBT youth homelessness. In the video, I play the role of a 15 year old who was kicked out of his home for being gay.

http://www.facebook.com/bianca.hizer Bianca Hizer

Dustin! you got popular! we all <3 you!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kerry-Nelson/100000482891678 Kerry Nelson

I’m sure I’m not alone in thanking you, both for your honesty here and for the intention of your project. I hope it achieves the goals you’ve set for it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1443795670 Joey Lopez

Excellent job, good luck in school man! it’s finals week for me right now /STRESSSS

Anonymous

Where is Dustin from? I am sure there are some really good hearted individuals in his city that would be more than happy to help him out! I know I have a guest bedroom that wouldn’t mind some use. He’s more than welcome in our home!
http://twitter.com/sovereignhope Sovereign

I was very close to a similar situation when I was outed against my will. I was effectively disowned by my parents, and was lucky enough that I had just found an apartment a few days prior to being outed. But if I had been outed a few weeks or months earlier, things would have been very different for me. Dustin may have been playing a part in this video, but the situation is very real for a lot of people. Thank you for making this video, and I hope that after the voting is done, you can show it to more people. The public needs to know that many of us are at risk due to the homophobia and transphobia of their own flesh and blood.

Sure, we need to tell the youth that “it gets better,” but we as adults need to do everything in our power to MAKE it better.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Erica-Cook/100000628613592 Erica Cook

I think this is more of a case of a kid not thinking ahead all the way. I Don’t think he was trying to mock or trick anyone. He just didn’t think it all the way through.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Otto-Weiler/665595087 Otto Weiler

Hmmm pretty irresponsible to make the video and let so many people believe that you were actually kicked out. Granted your apologizing here but dude, very very very uncool. Use your brain next time
Roy Emerson

I was a preachers kid and I was 15 as well. Was tough on the streets but off and on after a few dilemma’s I found the Ali Forney Center some years later. Carl Siciliano was the best thing to ever happen to me!
Mark Hustleby

I think that you should have been less apologetic. Being kicked out of the house by your parents, the people who are always supposed to be there for you, is completely wrong. Your apology vindicates them.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alicia-Affatato/1096730455 Alicia Affatato

It never happened to me, but I did work with a guy for a while who told his dad and stepmom, and was told to get out and that if he ever came home his dad would kill him. So, he carried all his stuff around in his backpack for about two months, until he found a place out of state with some friends. He slept on different co-workers couches. We didn’t know what else to do to help him, since we did not have the room to move another person in, so we just gave him some of the gift cards we had earned through the year…it gave him money to by something to eat and some clothes until he got where he was going…

Tags

Inspirational Class Video Project About LGBT Teens Living on the Streets After Coming Out

Pages

Tags

Inspirational Class Video Project About LGBT Teens Living on the Streets After Coming Out

Yo Categories

Pages