2026 Pride Talk | Safe and Supported: Harm Reduction and Pathways Toward Hope Amid Policy Change

This year's Pride Talk, Safe and Supported: Harm Reduction and Pathways Toward Hope Amid Policy Change for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care, brought together researchers, advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders and explored recent policy changes affecting LGBTQ+ youth in foster care, current challenges and opportunities, and pathways toward hope, equity, and affirming care. From research on the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and shifts in policy and data collection to inclusive healthcare, youth services, and gender-affirming resources such as the Rainbow Resource Network’s Qlosets, the conversation highlighted the importance of evidence-based policy, youth autonomy, and accessible community support. These discussions remind us that creating safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ youth requires ongoing collaboration across systems, communities, and lived experiences. 00:03 — Welcome & Introduction 02:11 — Speaker #1: Elana Redfield, Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law 10:43 — Speaker #2: Yasemin Smallens, Human Rights Watch 19:47 — Speaker #3: Lizzie Shuster, Office of Supervisor Lindsey Horvath 27:16 — Speaker #4: Cindy Cruz, National Center for Youth Law 35:30 — Speaker #5: Elliott Hinkle, Unicorn Solutions 41:25 — Speaker #6: Ariel Bustamante, Los Angeles LGBT Center 53:02 — Q&A 55:08 — Conclusion