Real or perceived sexual orientation that is different to the norm is often the basis for discrimination and violence against many people around the world. A group that is particularly vulnerable is children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) who are at risk of losing parental care and who already lost parental care. For a number of LGBTI children under 18 years of age the rejection experienced within their own families is often the first of many rejections. Thereafter they continue to suffer from the effects of rejection, discrimination and violence within their communities and within the child welfare system, falling through all the safety nets that are available for most other children. Some research in the EU and the North America started to put a spotlight on the particular challenges faced by LGBTI children in alternative care. However, data on the status of LGBTI children who are in alternative care in developing countries is lacking.
This issue paper explores the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) children and young people in alternative care settings and highlights some promising practices.
