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GLSEN offers new college scholarships
Thu Apr 8, 7:32 PM ET
Jen Christensen, Gay.com / PlanetOut.com Network
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students can now apply to get some financial help on two fronts from GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
GLSEN is a national group that fights to keep schools a safe place for GLBT students. The organization joins a growing number of organizations from AT&T to the Gay Pilots Association that offer scholarships to gay students.
What sets GLSEN's awards apart from the others is that one set of schalarships will help send GLBT students to college, and another will help high school students who are trying to set up gay-straight alliances (GSAs), or other programs that will help their fellow gay classmates.
"It takes a lot of courage for these high school students to come forward and to take the steps to start a gay-straight alliance at their school," said Michelle Sims, a spokeswoman for GLSEN who puts the growing number of GSAs at 2,100 nationwide. "We want to reward these students for all their hard work to keep high schools safe."
The financial awards for student GSA leaders will underwrite their participation in GLSEN Leadership Team activities.
GLSEN's new college scholarships will give students a fixed amount of money over a four-year period. The amount of the scholarships will be based on financial need and the student's academic strength and leadership skills. Qualified applicants must demonstrate leadership in GLBT activities. Through the scholarships, GLSEN hopes to encourage student activists to work on behalf of the GLBT community.
"In a society where GLBT activism is still more likely to earn scorn than applause, the GLSEN Scholarship Program provides a powerful affirmation of these young leaders," said Elliot Leonard and Roger Litz in a joint statement about the scholarship. The funds for these scholarships come from Leonard and Litz, who are major donors to GLSEN.
Students can get more information and apply online through May at GLSEN.org.
Simms said she hopes the funds will ultimately benefit the broader GLBT community.
"With our scholarships we hope to shape our community's future leaders. Look how far we've come as a community." Simms said. "With these kind of experienced leaders on our side there's no telling just how much our community can achieve."
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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