Youth Activism Award
The Out In The Silence Award for Youth Activism was established in 2011 to lift up and honor courageous and unheralded young people who are on the front lines in the struggle for dignity, respect, inclusion, fairness and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people across the country and around the world.
During its inaugural year, more than 100 student, youth and ally groups participated in the competition, holding public events that broke new ground in raising LGBT visibility, calling attention to bullying and harassment, and promoting safe schools for all.
2011 Award Winners
Announced on International Human Rights Day, the 2011 awards went to three remarkable groups:
- Grand Prize ($1,500): Farrington High School Gay-Straight Alliance, Honolulu, HI
- Impact Award ($750): Oregon Student Equal Rights Alliance, a statewide coalition
- New Group Award ($500): Equality Club at Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
For more details about the events see the award announcement in the Huffington Post
Stay Tuned for 2012 Award Entry Details
The Out In The Silence Campaign will soon be calling for nominations for student, youth and ally groups to be considered for the 2012 Award for Youth Activism.
Groups should be involved in ongoing work to help build community and change the policies and practices that affect young peoples' lives. Activities can range from informational public education forums to gritty street actions, from heartwarming cultural events to hardcore political organizing and advocacy, to creative outbursts of activism heretofore unimagined, unseen and unheard.
The winners will offer inspiring examples of thoughtful and effective action against bigotry and discrimination in places where silence and acquiescence to the dominant culture have rendered LGBT people invisible, marginalized, fearful, and powerless for too long.
We're counting on you to help bring bold and dynamic activism that needs recognition and support to our attention. Stay tuned for details about how to enter.
Eligibility Requirements
You must be a group (or coalition of groups) that serves LGBTQ youth aged 14-21. This could be a gay-straight alliance (GSA), diversity club, queer student group, or other community, church, or NGO-based group.
There must be a responsible adult supervisor for the group; for example, the faculty advisor for a high-school GSA, or the program director for an LGBT Center youth group.
There must be a fiscal entity that can receive the award as a charitable contribution, such as a student activity fund or non-profit organization.
- With Major Support From:
- Presented by Penn State Public Broadcasting.