Every night in America, tens of thousands of young people sleep on streets, in shelters, or in other unsafe places. What many people don't realize is that LGBTQ+ youth are dramatically overrepresented in this crisis—not because of anything inherent to being LGBTQ+, but because of how families and systems respond to them.

LGBTQ+ youth make up only 7-9% of the overall youth population, yet they represent nearly 40% of young people experiencing homelessness. That means an LGBTQ+ young person is over 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.

The primary driver? Family rejection. Over half of LGBTQ+ youth who become homeless report that it happened because of mistreatment related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This crisis is preventable. Research shows that family acceptance, supportive schools, and affirming communities can dramatically reduce these risks. But first, we need to understand the scope and reality of what's happening.

Test your knowledge with the questions below. These aren't easy—they're designed to challenge common assumptions and reveal the research-backed facts about LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in America.