Arts & Entertainment
SPOTLIGHTING LGBT HOMELESSNESS: SMYAL’s 18-month shelter program houses LGBT youth
Housing hub inspired by alarming 2015 D.C. study
SMYAL Director of Youth Housing Jorge Membreño (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
This story is part of our contribution to the 2018 #DCHomelessCrisis news blitz. Local media outlets will be reporting and discussing stories about ending homelessness in the nation’s capital all day. The collaborative body of work is cataloged at dchomelesscrisis.press.
Chris Lewis aspires to be a beauty influencer on YouTube with millions of subscribers. Although there are few beauty gurus who are men of color, Lewis is ready to pioneer a beauty movement with SMYAL’s transitional housing program serving as a stepping stone for his goals.
The 25-year-old was born in Queens, N.Y., and later raised in the D.C. area. Lewis, who identifies as gay, says he was facing “extreme homelessness to the point where I was sleeping out on the street and in parks and sometimes from couch to couch.”
Lewis found housing with the Wanda Alston Foundation, D.C.’s first transitional house for homeless LGBT youth which opened in 2008. After graduating from the program, Lewis moved into SMYAL’s transitional house in November.
SMYAL’s transitional housing program opened in January 2017 in response to D.C.’s 2015 Homeless Youth Census, which states that 43 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT.
The facility can accommodate 12 residents at a time for SMYAL’s 18-month program. Since its opening, 13 residents have been housed.
Residents are referred to the program through social workers, doctors, therapists, school personnel or through another agency. Once referred, potential residents come in for interviews and assessments. If the resident is accepted, they receive a welcome kit with toiletries, sheets and towels. Transportation is paid for and Safeway gift cards are distributed for residents to buy their own groceries and cook their own meals.
Director of Youth Housing Jorge Membreño, a program assistant, a case manager or another member of staff is on site anytime between 8 a.m.-6 p.m. The program offers case management for the development of a personal action plan and weekly check-in meetings. Supportive services are offered including medical care, mental health services and self-care support. Residents also learn skills pertaining to job hunting, apartment hunting, finding programs to get food stamps and more. There are also community outings and LGBT youth networking opportunities.
Membreño says there hasn’t been any major behavioral issues so far in the program.
After residents leave the program staff follows up with them for one year through text, email or a phone call at least once a week.
The annual operating budget is funded completely by the D.C. Department of Human Services.
The program is designed for LGBT residents but Membreño says the program doesn’t screen potential residents based on their sexuality. He trusts that LGBT residents looking for a safe place to express themselves will be drawn to the program because they can safely be themselves. Membreño says many of their residents have recounted stories of staying at shelters and having to hide their gender expression or sexuality to be safe.
According to Membreño, LGBT homeless numbers are similar in D.C. compared to other major cities such as New York City and Chicago. However, Membreño thinks the factors for LGBT homelessness are not widely known to the public.
“The one you hear the most is when a family ostracized someone,” Membreño says. “Something we don’t talk about a lot is parental incarceration, low parental involvement, family homelessness. There are different factors that contribute to LGBT homelessness other than just the ostracization.”
Membreño identifies as straight but LGBT homelessness is close to his heart. He started his career as a social worker for the LGBT community and eventually found himself working in homelessness as a school social worker. He also is a licensed therapist and decided to incorporate the world of therapy and social work together.
“The more and more I got involved with it and the more I worked with LGBTQ-identifying youth I decided to merge the two into two passions I loved working with and then being able to focus my attention within the city to make sure that our youth had access to equitable housing and that D.C. was really paying attention,” Membreño says.
Lewis is also realizing his dreams through SMYAL’s transitional housing program. He cites YouTubers Jackie Aina, Jeffree Star and Manny MUA as inspirations for his career. He also credits a friend who died for getting him interested in makeup.
“I want to be in a space where I can create a studio with all my makeup and really reach out to people who are like me, men of color, who want to become a beauty influencer and create a brand that is all-inclusive for everybody,” Lewis says.
In a place like SMYAL’s traditional housing program Lewis’ goals are encouraged in a way that may not be as accepted in a non-LGBT program.
“Having a place where you can identify with the people you’re with also helps create a level of safety, family and community that you might not find in other residential or transitional living centers,” Membreño says.
For more information on SMYAL’s transitional housing program, visit smyal.org.
Celebrity News
Brazilian police arrest two men who allegedly targeted Lady Gaga concert
Authorities say suspects wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians
Brazilian police have arrested two people who allegedly sought to detonate explosives at a free Lady Gaga concert that took place on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday.
The Associated Press reported Felipe Curi, a spokesperson for the city’s Civil Police, told reporters the men who authorities arrested hours before the concert took place wanted to target LGBTQ Brazilians. Civil Police Chief Luiz Lima said the men posted hate speech and violent content online “aimed at gaining notoriety in order to attract more viewers, more participants — most of them teenagers, many of them children.”
“They were clearly saying that they were planning an attack at Lady Gaga’s concert motivated by sexual orientation,” said Cury, according to the AP.
An estimated 2.5 million people attended the concert.
A Lady Gaga spokesperson told the AP the singer learned about the threats on Sunday from media reports.
“Prior to and during the show, there were no known safety concerns, nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks,” said the spokesperson. “Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place.”
Lady Gaga in an Instagram post thanked her Brazilian fans.
“Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night’s show — the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil,” she wrote. “The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away. Your heart shines so bright, your culture is so vibrant and special, I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you.”
“An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing, the biggest crowd for any woman in history. I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world — I know I can’t, but I can say this — if you lose your way, you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard,” added Lady Gaga. “You can give yourself dignity by rehearsing your passion and your craft, pushing yourself to new heights — you can lift yourself up even if it takes some time. Thank you Rio for waiting for me to come back. Thank you little monsters all over the world. I love you. I will never forget this moment. Paws up little monsters. Obrigada. Love, Mother Monster.”
An estimated 1.6 million people attended Madonna’s free concert on Copacabana Beach last May.
Books
A boy-meets-boy, family-mess story with heat
New book offers a stunning, satisfying love story
‘When the Harvest Comes’
By Denne Michele Norris
c.2025, Random House
$28/304 pages
Happy is the bride the sun shines on.
Of all the clichés that exist about weddings, that’s the one that seems to make you smile the most. Just invoking good weather and bright sunshine feels like a cosmic blessing on the newlyweds and their future. It’s a happy omen for bride and groom or, as in the new book “When the Harvest Comes” by Denne Michele Norris, for groom and groom.
Davis Freeman never thought he could love or be loved like this.
He was wildly, wholeheartedly, mind-and-soul smitten with Everett Caldwell, and life was everything that Davis ever wanted. He was a successful symphony musician in New York. They had an apartment they enjoyed and friends they cherished. Now it was their wedding day, a day Davis had planned with the man he adored, the details almost down to the stitches in their attire. He’d even purchased a gorgeous wedding gown that he’d never risk wearing.
He knew that Everett’s family loved him a lot, but Davis didn’t dare tickle the fates with a white dress on their big day. Everett’s dad, just like Davis’s own father, had considerable reservations about his son marrying another man – although Everett’s father seemed to have come to terms with his son’s bisexuality. Davis’s father, whom Davis called the Reverend, never would. Years ago, father and son had a falling-out that destroyed any chance of peace between Davis and his dad; in fact, the door slammed shut to any reconciliation.
But Davis tried not to think about that. Not on his wedding day. Not, unbeknownst to him, as the Reverend was rushing toward the wedding venue, uninvited but not unrepentant. Not when there was an accident and the Reverend was killed, miles away and during the nuptials.
Davis didn’t know that, of course, as he was marrying the love of his life. Neither did Everett, who had familial problems of his own, including homophobic family members who tried (but failed) to pretend otherwise.
Happy is the groom the sun shines on. But when the storm comes, it can be impossible to remain sunny.
What can be said about “When the Harvest Comes?” It’s a romance with a bit of ghost-pepper-like heat that’s not there for the mere sake of titillation. It’s filled with drama, intrigue, hate, characters you want to just slap, and some in bad need of a hug.
In short, this book is quite stunning.
Author Denne Michele Norris offers a love story that’s everything you want in this genre, including partners you genuinely want to get to know, in situations that are real. This is done by putting readers inside the characters’ minds, letting Davis and Everett themselves explain why they acted as they did, mistakes and all. Don’t be surprised if you have to read the last few pages twice to best enjoy how things end. You won’t be sorry.
If you want a complicated, boy-meets-boy, family-mess kind of book with occasional heat, “When the Harvest Comes” is your book. Truly, this novel shines.
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The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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