Action Alert for HOMELESS YOUTH PRIDE WALK 2009

PRESS RELEASE >>>>>

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

 
TWO WOMEN WALK ACROSS AMERICA TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR HOMELESS LGBTQ YOUTH
 
Released on March 23, 2009

In May, 2009, Jill Hardman and Chloe Noble will begin walking across America for LGBTQ homeless youth. They will set out on foot from Seattle, Washington traveling first to San Francisco, then east across the country to Boston, New York, and then Washington D.C. From there they will continue souththwest to New Orleans and end their long journey in Austin, Texas. Their goal is to cover 6000 miles, (over 3000 of it on foot), to raise awareness about Queer Homeless Youth in America. During their walk, they will be living in the midst of the homeless queer youth, which will give them a unique opportunity to film and interview queer homeless youth all over the United States. Says Noble, "We are excited for this opportunity to serve those less fortunate in the LGBTQ community. Through this walk we will be a part of something beautiful, powerful, thought-provoking, and meaningful."
 
Everyone who is interested can "virtually walk with us" by following our website - which will be loaded with videos, photos, and posts collected on the journey.  Others can support Homeless Youth Pride Walk 2009 by simply sharing the link on many popular networking channels. Also, supporters can get current updates by becoming followers of our blog (http://www.pridewalk2009.org/2009/02/pride-walk-2009.html) - which includes interactive media tools, such as Google Maps, Twitter, YouTube, and Kyte TV. 
 
"Almost 40% of homeless youth in America identify as LGBTQ," says Noble, "We want to help give this incredibly diverse group of Queer youth a voice and a platform to stand on. Studies show that many LGBTQ homeless youth who receive appropriate guidance, support, resources, and encouragement, eventually become successful members of the LGBTQ community. By raising awareness we hope to inspire others to make sure more resources are available to Queer homeless youth for this reason."

Please let your congregations know about our long walk for civil rights and to raise awareness for homeless LGBTQ youth. Almost 60% of homeless kids in Utah are queer and are being thrown out in the name of God,  by their "church going" families. We would like to invite congregations like yours to stand up and be counted!  As individuals who stand for true justice and with a collective voice who are willing to be a positive example to the world. We love you and what you are doing to help LGBTQ kids across America. This is just one more beautiful thing that all of us can do to bring about harmony and awareness. Please join us!

(In the future, Noble and Hardman plan on producing public service announcements with Queer youth in the Utah area, using the footage they bring back from their walk. These PSA's are intended to launch a multi-media web site, that Queer youth can use to express themselves and empower others through personal, local, national, and international activism. Noble says about the web site, "It is our intention to unify LGBTQ youth through artistic expression, and to teach them how to become mutual mentors in a process of self-awareness and collective healing.")

MEDIA CONTACT:
Chloe Michelle Noble
(Cell) 801-708-9515
noble.echo@gmail.com
website: http://pridewalk2009.org/