Teen Shelters exclusively for girls - my city just lost them all

[Delphinium20]

I'm really, really bothered by this new development (or maybe it's not new!). I don't know much about youth shelters in my largish city (not UK), but I had to recently (like yesterday) help a young teen find one and as I reviewed them, EVERY SINGLE shelter for girls is for "female identifying." We don't have sex-based protections for this in my country, so I can't see how it's a violation of any law. While many youth shelters were for both sexes, they claim to have male-only and female-only bedrooms, but this is a lie! These rooms have between 1-5 beds each, some are doubles (meaning if shelter is near capacity, you would be sleeping in same bed with another teen). I am just sooo angry and the social worker, when I complained, pretty much said, "this is how we protect all females."

I would never have known this had I not needed to assist a child. I know I need to do something, even an anonymous letter to a paper, but teen girls in need of shelter are extremely vulnerable.

So now, I have a teen living with me...forgive me if I don't post a lot on this thread as I imagine I will be busy with this surprise responsibility.

Dormitory accommodation is supposed to be single sex. They are breaking the law.

@Thelnebriati

Dormitory accommodation is supposed to be single sex. They are breaking the law.

Not UK, so not sure if that is true!

Oh sorry, missed that bit. The whole of Europe has equality laws and safeguarding in one form or other, so check what they are where you life.

Well done for taking this teenaged girl to live with you, Delphinium20, when the authorities would send her to a mixed-sex 'shelter' that may be more dangerous than wherever she's escaping from. How sickening to tell an obviously vulnerably young person that she must always put men's wishes before her own needs.

Thank god she has you on her side. to you both.

@Thelnebriati

Oh sorry, missed that bit. The whole of Europe has equality laws and safeguarding in one form or other, so check what they are where you life.

You are a good woman: but isn't it crazy when you can't guarantee the safety of someone so vulnerable?

I hope everything goes well with your young visitor.

"the social worker, when I complained, pretty much said, "this is how we protect all females."

Does America have single sex exemptions like the UK?

No unfortunately, their Equality Act plus the Bostock Ruling protects gender identity instead of sex.

''On June 15, 2020, the Court ruled in a 6–3 decision covering all three cases that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity is necessarily also discrimination "because of sex" as prohibited by Title VII. ''
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bostock_v._Clayton_County

"this is how we protect all females."

A political position, not a truth.

And this is what happens when you're 'kind' about not enforcing clear, truthful language. Lesson learned, big time.

This is an appalling situation OP, let us know if we can help.

I plan to first write an anonymous letter to the paper, and then check the donor lists to the shelters...curious if individual donors are aware. Often trusts are set up and disperse funds over time. Likely, the older donors have no idea this is their policy or don't understand it and assume it means gender-nonconforming lesbians. Most givers who set up a trust to fund a shelter for teen girls didn't envision this at all.

Thanks everyone!

@Artichokeleaves

"this is how we protect all females."

A political position, not a truth.

And this is what happens when you're 'kind' about not enforcing clear, truthful language. Lesson learned, big time.

This is an appalling situation OP, let us know if we can help.

So well said.

If they want to protect both girls and transgirls, the logical solution would be to for transgirls to only share with transgirls (or have a single room if they are the only one there) and for natal girls to only share with natal girls (terms used for clarity). Same in mixed sex shelters... Have the trans residents either in single rooms or only sharing with others of the same sex and gender.

But vulnerable children shouldn't be forced into mix sex accommodation to keep others safe.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

If they want to protect both girls and transgirls, the logical solution would be to for transgirls to only share with transgirls (or have a single room if they are the only one there) and for natal girls to only share with natal girls (terms used for clarity). Same in mixed sex shelters... Have the trans residents either in single rooms or only sharing with others of the same sex and gender.

But vulnerable children shouldn't be forced into mix sex accommodation to keep others safe.

I'll make this suggestion. It seems logical, yes?