True Colors United
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| True Colors United | |
|---|---|
| Name | True Colors United |
| Formation | 2008 |
| Founder | Cyndi Lauper |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | New York City, New York, United States |
| Focus | LGBTQ youth homelessness, youth services, policy advocacy |
True Colors United
True Colors United is a United States nonprofit organization founded to address LGBTQ youth homelessness through services, research, and policy advocacy. The organization developed from celebrity activism into a national network working with shelters, lawmakers, and service providers to reduce youth homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning populations.
History
True Colors United traces origins to a 2008 initiative by Cyndi Lauper and collaborators influenced by high-profile campaigns like the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project, and by events such as the Stonewall riots and movements connected to Harvey Milk and Marsha P. Johnson. Early partnerships involved organizations including GLAAD, Lambda Legal, and National Center for Lesbian Rights, while civic allies included the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and advocates linked to the American Civil Liberties Union. Over time the group expanded its work alongside institutions like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and state offices in places such as California, New York, and Massachusetts, responding to research from entities like the Williams Institute and studies echoed by think tanks such as the Urban Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Mission and Programs
True Colors United’s mission centers on ending LGBTQ youth homelessness through direct services, technical assistance, and awareness campaigns similar in outreach to initiatives by National Alliance to End Homelessness, Shelter Partnership, and Covenant House. Programs include training for frontline staff used by networks like the Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center and resource tools aligned with standards from the National Network for Youth and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The organization operates signature efforts comparable to national campaigns by It Gets Better Project and collaborates with creative partners such as Cyndi Lauper and cultural institutions exemplified by collaborations with performing arts organizations or media outlets like MTV and NPR.
Advocacy and Policy Initiatives
Advocacy work includes policy campaigns targeting federal statutes including components of the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act and engagement with executive agencies like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Education. True Colors United has supported state-level legislation and municipal ordinances akin to reforms in Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco that address shelter nondiscrimination and housing access, while coordinating with legal groups such as Equality California, GLAAD, and Lambda Legal to influence case law and administrative rulemaking. The organization has also participated in coalitions with philanthropic actors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and municipal policymakers tied to programs in Seattle, Philadelphia, and Austin, Texas.
Impact and Research
Evaluations and research initiatives draw upon methodologies used by the Williams Institute, Urban Institute, and academic centers at institutions like Harvard University, Columbia University, and University of California, Los Angeles to document prevalence and outcomes for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Impact reports reference metrics comparable to data compiled by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the True Colors Fund (see note), and studies disseminated through journals and conferences associated with American Psychological Association, Society for Research in Child Development, and public health forums hosted by Johns Hopkins University. Program outcomes have informed best practices for shelter inclusion used by providers across networks including Covenant House, Bowery Mission, and municipal systems in Boston, Denver, and Atlanta.
Partnerships and Funding
Funding and partners have included private philanthropies such as the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, corporate supporters resembling grants from entities like Google and Target Corporation, and artist-driven philanthropy linked to figures such as Cyndi Lauper and allies within the entertainment industry including Lady Gaga-era advocacy circles. Institutional collaborations span nonprofit coalitions such as the National Network for Youth, legal partners like Lambda Legal, research partners such as the Williams Institute, and governmental partners at agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and local homeless services departments in jurisdictions like New York City, Los Angeles County, and Cook County.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
The organization’s governance model aligns with typical nonprofit boards similar to those of Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project, with executive leadership roles, program directors, and advisory councils composed of advocates and experts drawn from groups like GLAAD, Lambda Legal, and academic centers at Rutgers University and University of Pennsylvania. Founding leadership involved high-profile advocates and artists including Cyndi Lauper alongside practitioners from service organizations and policy experts who have collaborated with municipal offices in New York City and state agencies across California and Massachusetts.