“Gay people are sinners who have no direction in life.”
Terry Scraggins specifically remembers hearing phrases just like this throughout his six years in foster care — one of the many experiences that lead him to become an advocate for LGBTQ foster youth.
Scraggins, a U.S. Navy Veteran currently pursuing a bachelor’s of social work degree at Boise State University, spent his summer in a joint internship between the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, Senator Wyden’s office (D-Oregon), and the Senate Finance Committee. Over the summer, he shared his story with policymakers and advocated for the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would eliminate anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the child welfare system.
Scraggins’ story underscores the need for more comprehensive inclusivity training for foster care parents and child placing agencies. Growing up both LGBTQ and biracial in Idaho, where African Americans make up less than 1% of the state’s population, Scraggins constantly encountered people who did not know how to support his growth and development. Youth of color are over-represented in the child welfare system, as are LGBTQ youth. According to a recent study, nearly one out of every five youth in the foster care system identify as LGBTQ.
The Every Child Deserves a Family Act stresses that welfare decisions should be made in the best interest of the child, which is not what happened in Scraggins’ case. He recounts not only being shamed for his sexuality, but also forced into following his foster parents’ religious practices and beliefs. During his six years in foster care, Terry was placed with over 20 different families — an experience not unique amongst LGBTQ youth. Studies estimate that 19.6 percent of LGBTQ youth are moved away from their first foster family placement because of a caregiver request.
These days for Terry, it’s eyes on the prize, as he continues to work towards his bachelor’s degree, and eventually a masters in social work. He also hopes to one day become a foster parent, something he strongly advocates that more LGBTQ people should do.