Ali Forney, Safe Space, New York, 1994.
"In 1994, while working on a project on healthcare for young people, I photographed at Safe Space, a drop in center for at-risk LGBTQ youth in Times Square. While there, I met Ali Forney. Ali AKA ‘Luscious’, a homeless gender-nonconforming youth, forced to live on the streets at 13, was peer counselor of and advocate for the community at Safe Space.
“In December of 1997, Ali was murdered on the streets of New York City. They were 22 years old. Their tragic death called attention to the atrocious conditions for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York. In 2002, committed to making a difference and honoring Ali, the former director of Safe Space, Carl Siciliano founded the Ali Forney Center.“
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