“Homosexuality is a bigger threat to this country than
terrorism.” This is the attention grabbing and heartbreaking
first line to The Kids Are Listening video campaign. It is
exactly this type of alarmist and discriminatory rhetoric that
the campaign is attempting to counter. Launched in April by the
American Bar Association on Children and the Law, the campaign
is attempting to raise awareness for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in America’s foster
system. The focus of the campaign is to ensure that LGBTQ youth
in the foster care system receive equal protection and rights as
youth who identify as straight. This can be achieved by training
social services providers to defend LGBTQ youth and be sensitive
to the messages youth hear everyday. It is important to protect
these children, and The Kids are Listening campaign is stepping
up to help. LGBTQ youth in America face entrenched
discrimination, and those who are in foster care encounter even
greater obstacles. One in ten yo