Homelessness is a problem in many areas, not just in the large metropolitan centers. 40% of homeless youth are LGBT. The plight of homeless youth is harsh and difficult. Staying warm, finding a safe place to sleep, staying safe and finding food are all things that are critical on the streets. Homeless veterans are also on the rise. The day to day struggles of being on the streets can be daunting. There are services available but they don’t reach everyone in need.
Youth suicide is also high for those on the streets. The desperate emotional plight of the day to day struggle for survival takes its toll. The suicide rate is higher for gay and trans homeless teens and trans teens also have to worry about staying safe while they present as their desired sex. MTF trans youth and transwomen are particularly at risk and sometimes they find work in the sex industry. This is particularly dangerous.
The grydscaen series addresses youth homelessness through some of its characters. The short story anthology grydscaen: tribute has four stories that focus on homeless youth and their fight for survival on the streets.
Faid, one of the main characters of the grydscaen series is seen in the story “Ambition Forward” as a 12 year old homeless youth who gets roped into the sex industry at 18. Having to find a way to survive, Faid, the gay teen ends up working as a host picking up johns off the street and making money just to not starve. The grydscaen series looks at multiple sides of Faid’s life as a host from the proprietor who owns the x-rated magazine shop called The Hole, to Faid’s main john George who buys his services and takes Faid to a host bar. Faid makes good money as a host but he has to contend with being beaten and taken advantage of.
We also look at another homeless character in the grydscaen series named Rom. As opposed to Faid, Rom does not sell his body on the streets. Instead we see him squatting in the subway, hanging out and scrounging dumpsters for food. He also has some interactions with the patrols on the street. Rom is in a very different position from Faid, his life is harsh and he is seen in the story “A Storm’s Coming” as having to fight for his life when a killer targets him on the street. Many gay and trans homeless teens have to be very careful about their safety and this story shows just how precarious life on the streets can be.
In the story “Know Thyself” we run into the MTF transgirl Iin who is homeless and searching for hormones on the streets. Looking at buying from drug dealers Iin is faced with the constant harrassment by other kids on the street. Trans teens are particularly vulnerable and if they can’t pass or there are issues passing they could be in danger. One of the dangers on the street is sharing needles. This can pass on disease but we sometimes see this sharing going on.
Drugs are mentioned in the grydscaen series and shooting up and needle exchanges are mused about in the books. The psychics in the story take psi inducer drugs like neurocine which are shot up by syringe. I wanted to bring attention to this practice as drugs are pervasive on the streets. Those that can afford them sometimes get caught up and succumb to addiction which can lead to overdose.
The grydscaen series is helping to get the word out about youth homelessness. Two counseling centers are using the grydscaen manga as a tool to help with self esteem for troubled youth. The manga based on the short story “A Storm’s Coming” focuses on Rom’s life on the streets and his day to day survival. The story, though dire shows how hope and courage can lead to self esteem and redemption. Through Rom and Faid, grydscaen addresses many hard social lessons and shows the marginalized of society and brings their story to light.
I wanted to give back to the community and grydscaen allows me to do that. Please support our homeless lgbt youth and homeless veterans by showing your strength and supporting services that help to make their lives better. The series grydscaen is doing its part. Won’t you.
