In 2026, there are few protections for LGBTQ youth in the American foster care system. LGBTQ kids make up a third of the foster care system and transgender kids enter the system at five times the rate of the general population. But in 2026, there are few legal protections for LGBTQ youth. Uncloseted Media’s Sam Donndelinger spoke with case workers, advocates, and survivors of the foster care system and uncovered why it’s failing trans kids.
In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Spencer sits down with Sam where she breaks down the story’s key findings. UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Taya Strauss Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad