Foundation Offers Paid LGBT Internships

The R. Scott Hitt Foundation is offering funding for qualified candidates with the vision to be future leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement.

The pro-LGBT sponsoring organization that the interns choose to apply with will receive funding to compensate your internship position while you strengthen your resume and gain valuable skills toward becoming a leader of the future.

Pro-LGBT non-profits are encouraged to identify prospective interns and cooperatively submit an application packet.

The post-graduate internship is called the Scott Hitt Internship in Leadership Development. It is geared toward post-graduate students with a strong academic record. The grant is $20,000 for a 40-hour-per-week, seven to nine month internship at an LGBT non-profit. The applicant contacts host organization they want to work at and co-develops a successful curriculum encompassing these key elements: communications, fundraising, board development and grassroots policy. The deadline is May 7.

The undergraduate internship, known as the A.N.G.L.E. Southern California Internship, is a $4,000 grant for an 8-week internship at an LGBT non-profit in Southern California. The deadline is April 16.

To apply, visit http://www.scotthittfoundation.org and submit a cover letter, personal essay, resume and sponsor agreement.

From: Pridesource.com!

Broward School Board Affirms Safe Schools for LGBT Youth

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, for the second consecutive year, The School Board of Broward County, FL, voted unanimously to affirm its support for the National Day of Silence observed on April 16, 2010, one of the largest student-led actions in the country sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). The purpose of the National Day of Silence is for students to silently and peacefully protest anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) bullying, harassment, and name-calling. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), because students who are targeted for anti-gay or anti-transgender bullying often do not identify as LGBT, the Day of Silence represents a peaceful a protest of a problem that affects all students no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The board resolution was once again sponsored by Broward County School Board Chairwoman Jennifer Gottlieb who recognizes the critical role for the National Day of Silence as an effective tool in the fight for equal protections of all Broward County students. Below is a statement School Board Chairwoman Gottlieb read on behalf of the District’s Office of Prevention Programs:

“The resolution for the ‘National Day of Silence’ is more than a simple recognition supporting an LGBTQ/sexual minority activity in April. The resolution speaks to the importance of building a broader, critical, cultural norm in our school district.

More at: Broward’s Blog!

Napa PFLAG Chapter Sponsors Scholarships

The local chapter of Parents, Family and Friends of Gays and Lesbians (PFLAG) is fortunate to be able to offer scholarships of $500-$1,000 to GLBT seniors or student allies who have demonstrated their support for the GLBT community. Scholarships can be used at a university or college, technical/vocational school, performing arts school or art college. Students currently attending one of the above mentioned institutions are also welcome to apply.

Find out where at: LGBT Napa!

HRC’ 2nd Year of ‘Generation Equality Scholarships’

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, today announced the launch of the second year of the “Generation Equality Scholarships” for LGBT and allied students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fight for queer equality.  The scholarships are part of HRC Foundation’s Youth and Campus Outreach Program, which aims to provide tools, facilitate connections and empower young people to fight for LGBT equality on campus and beyond.  To apply for the Generation Equality Scholarships, or to learn about last year’s recipients, visit: www.hrc.org/geneqscholarship. 

Read more at: Steve Rothaus’ Gay South Florida!

Outreach to Gay College Applicants

At many colleges, it’s a standard part of the recruiting process once applicants are admitted. Current students who share individual traits or academic interests help reach out to prospective students with similar backgrounds or interests. So the young woman who expresses an interest in engineering will hear from a female junior in engineering. A black admit might hear from a black student, and so forth. The idea is that these students may be uniquely well positioned to answer questions and to make the case that the college is a good place to be a female engineer, a black undergrad, or whatever.

This year, the University of Pennsylvania is applying the idea to admitted applicants who are gay. Several experts on college admissions say that they do not know of any other colleges that have taken this step. [Update: In comments below, an official of Dartmouth College describes such an effort there.] Outreach to gay applicants is different in some key ways from outreach based on academic interests or race and ethnicity. Typically, applications ask about academic interests and race and ethnicity (although that question is optional), and no colleges are known to ask applicants about their sexual orientation.

And while Penn has found ways to reach out to admitted applicants who are gay without asking the question, some advocates for gay and lesbian students are starting to talk about pushing colleges to add such a question (as an option). One group is preparing to petition the Common Application to do so.

More at: Inside Higher Ed

Next Page »