A California organization, Family Builders by Adoption, recently launched a campaign designed to encourage families to take in GLBT kids as foster children.

Posters show a woman holding a picture of one teenage boy kissing another on the cheek. The copy reads, "My Pride and Joy. Be a foster parent to an LGBTQ kid. Everyone deserves a proud parent."

To see a picture of the poster check out the Bay Area Reporter.

The Family Builders by Adoption website explains some of the specific reasons that a lot of GLBT kids are in need of foster care:

• Many run away to live on the streets because they say they feel safer there
• They may have been abused or rejected by their family because of their sexual orientation or gender identity
• They are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, sexual abuse and violence from both peers and caregivers
• LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, and are more likely than other foster youth to be placed in group homes.
• An overwhelming majority of LGBTQ youth report they were victims of violence, and all have been victims of verbal abuse, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity while in group care.

It is also important to realize that as many as 40% of homeless and runaway youth are GLBT teens!
If you are interested about learning more about GLBT friendly foster care, homelessness among GLBT youth, or are an adult who wants to help out, you can contact your closest GLBT community center for more information.