HUD Marks LGBTQ Pride Month with Performance from Ali Forney Theater of the Oppressed

June is LGBTQ Pride Month, and HUD's New York Regional Office marked the occasion with an enlightening performance from the Theater of the Oppressed Ali Forney Troupe at the Jacob K. Javits building in Manhattan. The Ali Forney Center has been heralded for their full continuum of care approach to services for LGBTQ homeless youth, and their founder, Carl Siciliano, was named a White House Champion of Change by President Obama citing the wide recognition AFC's programs have received for their quality and innovation. The performers made their work particularly relevant for HUD's staff, illustrating gaps in transitional and youth shelter programs and rules that can leave LGBTQ youth with limited options that lead to homelessness. The dialogue sparked by the performance was enhanced further when HUD employees had the chance to jump into scenes and take them in new directions, "rehearsing for life" as put by the troupe's leader. Learn more about HUD's efforts to ensure Fair Housing for the LGBT Community at hud.gov/fairhousing, or at this post (http://blog.hud.gov/index.php/2015/06/16/protecting-every-persons-access-to-housing/#more-8506) on HUD's blog, The HUDdle.

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