Coming out as pansexual to family and friends wasn’t easy for 18-year-old Summer. 

Most didn’t even know what that meant. For Summer, it means being attracted to someone regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. She said this can lead to a lot of confusion and judgment.

“When I was younger, I was really saying I was straight, but I started to realize that I wasn't really straight anymore," said Summer, who is a Covenant House resident. "I started to realize that I don't really care about their gender. That’s really what it is."

“A lot of people say, 'Oh, that's not a sexuality.' I'm like, 'Oh no, it is. It's just that you keep forgetting, there's the plus to LGBTQ,'" Summer added. 

While it took her some time, today, Summer is full of pride when she talks about her identity. But there’s so much more to her: she loves arts and crafts and she works two jobs, all while also experiencing homelessness.

Summer is one of 120 people living at Covenant House, a shelter for young people. Many identify as LGBTQ or are victims of trafficking. Summer has been at Covenant House for about a month, after transferring from another youth shelter.  It’s there she has found community, comfort and acceptance.

“While everybody's story is different, while all family settings are different, while all of the communities that the young people come from are different, there is a huge sense of rejection that the young people have experienced. And they're looking for some place where they will be accepted unconditionally," said Dr. Shakeema North, the vice president of youth development, equity and inclusion at Covenant House.

Covenant House is celebrating 50 years of supporting homeless youth, with more than a bed and warm meals — but with health care, job readiness programs and legal services. The doors of Covenant House are open 24/7, across six cities, helping those who need it the most.

A survey from The Trevor Project reports that 28% of LGBTQ youth have experienced homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives. And of those who reported homelessness, 35% shared they attempted suicide during that time.

While startling, this is reality for many of the young people North works with.

"They have fight, you know, they have drive, they are still hopeful, which sometimes it's hard to understand, like how can you still be so hopeful after you have gone through so much? But they are," North said. "So they're hopeful that one day their situation is gonna change."

Summer is hopeful that she will one day run her own shelter to support teens like her. Until then, she will keep sharing a piece of advice with anyone who is struggling to feel comfortable in their own skin. 

"Just be yourself. Like, just be comfortable in your own skin," Summer said. "Just like, get them little bugs that tell you don't do it out your ear. Just like, let them fly right back out. Because they do not need to be in your ear at all."