Christmas Eve with Danny Roberts from Real World: New Orleans

This is an interview I have always wanted from the depths of my heart. Danny’s messages I remember from watching Real World New Orleans inspired me to move to New Orleans almost 25 years ago. My trajectory could have been so different. My stubbornness to leave Mississippi because of some show was ridiculous to a lot of people. Man, my life would have been so different had I listened to them. Danny’s messages this Christmas hits hard- just like old times.
 
Our 4th annual Christmas Eve Special was created for our LGBT community that is not welcome home for the holidays. Every year I track down beacons of hope and light that is bottled up inside of passionate and kind people in my community that will help me send up embers into the world that may allow others to find their way in an unwelcoming place they may be in. 

*If you need resources please go to*:
https://nolapapa.com/lgbtq-resources


Some sobering statistics for you this Holiday:
(www.thetrevorproject.org)

• LGBTQ youth in our sample who reported housing instability or homelessness had nearly two to four times the odds of reporting depression (aOR = 2.07), anxiety (aOR = 1.96), self-harm (aOR = 2.30), considering suicide (aOR = 2.62), and attempting suicide (aOR = 3.70) compared to those who did not report any housing instability. 
• 69% of youth who reported past housing instability and 68% of youth who were currently homeless reported that they had engaged in self-harm in the last year – compared to 49% of youth who had not experienced housing instability, 
• 58% of youth who reported past housing instability and 62% of youth who were currently homeless reported having seriously considered suicide in the last year – compared to 35% of youth who had not experienced housing instability, 
• 28% of youth who reported past housing instability and 35% of youth who were currently homeless reported a suicide attempt in the last year – compared to 10% of youth who had not experienced housing instability,  
  • Preventing LGBTQ Youth Homelessness. Strong anti-discrimination policies in the workplace and strong anti-bully and harassment policies in schools can be effective in helping LGBTQ youth stay connected to school and employment, increasing their skills and future earnings, and making it easier for them to maintain stable housing. Additionally, since family conflict around youths’ LGBTQ identities is a driving factor in LGBTQ youth homelessness, developing family counseling or mediation programs may be effective at decreasing conflict and keeping LGBTQ youth in their homes and connected to their families. Special attention should also be paid to preventing housing instability among LGBTQ youth in foster care through case management and exit planning for youth exiting care. 

NolaPapa.com Will ALWAYS be a SAFE PLACE for my community. Our Christmas Eve episode is dedicated for all of those that need hope, inspiration and love this Holiday Season. 

Danny and I had an amazing chat about keeping the fire inside you bright so that the embers from it fly and touch others that need your light as well. 
We are ALL in this together, whether some understand or not. 

Always remember that there are so many more people that love you than the ones that don't. Those may be the loudest. Just lose the noise and listen to your heart. Find your passions. Lose cynicism. Try to find humor that makes you happy. Smile. Then, when your tired and weary head becomes strong again, help someone that needs it. 
I love you. Danny loves you. And so many more does, too. 
Merry Christmas and if you need me, email me at erik@nolapapa.com.