Pride Foundation

2011 Grant Writing Workshop Presentation

Thank you for your interest in Pride Foundation’s Grants Program. You can download the PDF version of our grant writing presentation here.

The deadline for submitting the online application (Letter of Inquiry) is August 19, 2011.

Should you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or call 1.800.735.7287. You can also explore our grants information pages on our website at www.pridefoundation.org/grants.

U of Alaska votes for anti-discrimination policy

On February 18, the University of Alaska Board of Regents voted to include “sexual orientation” in their nondiscrimination policy by a vote of 8-2 – a critical step forward for LGBTQ rights in Alaska.

“It’s long overdue,” said Amada Arredondo, a senior in the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Department of Social Work. “LGBT people don’t feel safe in the university and this is the first step.”

With campuses all over the state of Alaska, this change in policy will protect approximately 33,000 students and 7,000 employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Tiffany McClain, Pride Foundation’s Regional Development Organizer in Alaska, was one of dozens of students, faculty, and community members to testify over the course of the two-day meeting. Read her testimony below to learn why Pride Foundation decided to add a voice to the conversation:

Good morning. My name is Tiffany McClain and I’m speaking to you today as an Alaskan resident and as the Regional Development Organizer for Pride Foundation urging you to vote in favor of amending University of Alaska’s nondiscrimination policies to include sexual orientation.

Most students and educators who have heard of Pride Foundation know us as the organization that gives grants and scholarships to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, students raised by LGBT parents, and straight-ally students. But Pride Foundation’s vision is something greater than a scholarship program.

We envision an entire world that honors diversity, fosters mutual respect, and celebrates complete equality for all. So when we talk about supporting our scholars and other LGBT students, we don’t only mean ensuring that they have financial access to education.

To be consistent with our vision, we also have to find ways to advocate on their behalf by collaborating with and urging educational institutions like the University of Alaska to create a safe and supported environment in which all students—LGBT/gay and straight—can achieve academic success and personal growth.

The other day I was talking about this hearing with one of our scholars from Anchorage, Tonei Glavinic, who is currently a junior at American University—a school that includes both sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policy. He’s a Nicholas J. Begich Policy Fellow and someone who has been an advocate for the rights of LGBT students since he was in 8^th grade down the road at Stellar Secondary School.

When I asked him what he would say to you today if he could be here, he said that when a university publicly and explicitly states that it’s not going to tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation, it makes all students feel more comfortable bringing their entire selves to the school, talking about the issues that affect them, and therefore able to get more out of their classes and the college experience, producing better graduates, better scholars, better citizens and future leaders prepared to excel in an increasingly diverse and connected world.

In closing, I’ll just say that while a nondiscrimination policy in and of itself does not prevent discrimination, it is a crucial first step. The Board of Regents has this amazing opportunity to provide leadership and be the models for how you expect members of the university community to conduct themselves. And with this standard in place you’ll help create an environment in which students, faculty, and staff will feel safe enough to do the rest of the work necessary to make the University of Alaska a truly inclusive environment for everyone.

For all these reasons, I urge you to vote to amend University of Alaska’s nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

Montana’s Women’s Leadership Conference

Pride Foundation is proud to support the 5th Annual Women’s Policy Leadership Institute 2011 Conference taking place January 28 and 29 in Helena, Montana. You won’t want to miss this great gathering of women or the opportunities to practice some citizen advocacy at the 2011 Montana Legislature! Organized by Montana Women Vote, the conference is a great chance to network with others women who identify as LGBTQ and connect with many allies who support Pride Foundation’s mission in Montana.

“The conference gives women from a wide range of policy backgrounds the chance to come together and learn about a host of progressive issues including reproductive rights, economic justice, equality and the environment,” said Pride Foundation’s new Regional Development Organizer for Montana, Caitlin Copple.

“Participants will choose from breakout sessions covering topics like Making a Difference on the National Level: It’s not as Scary as it Sounds, Legislative 101, and LGBTQI: FYI led by Jamee Greer of the Montana Human Rights Network, a Pride Foundation grantee.

Pride Foundation’s own Caitlin Copple will present a workshop about how to best communicate your passion for progressive issues in the media.

Sponsoring: Women’s Policy Leadership Institute 2011 Conference

Date: January 28 – 29
Location: Helena, Montana
Registration information: Click here
Limited scholarships available – please email [email protected] for an application.
Registration Deadline – January 21

Pride Foundation honors Idaho grantees

Pride Foundation presented the Idaho Grants Celebration on Dec. 9 in Boise’s historic Hyde Park district to honor five stellar organizations receiving Pride Foundation grant funds for 2010. The evening was attended by more than 30 people who turned out to cheer the accomplishments of the dedicated individuals behind these organizations, and also served as an opportunity for all to meet Pride Foundation’s new staff person, Steve Martin, a former journalist and longtime LGBTQ volunteer and Idaho resident, who proudly joins Pride Foundation as Regional Development Organizer for Idaho.

Here are the 2010 Pride Foundation Idaho grant recipients:

American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho

“Through the work of this project, we will bring together community members, policy makers, supporters and allies to achieve our vision of a fair and just Idaho.”

The ACLU of Idaho was awarded $5,000 to establish an LGBT Equality Project in Idaho. In the first year, they plan to conduct statewide polling and town hall-style listening meetings, and host a statewide equality summit. The ACLU is the only Idaho-based statewide organization working to achieve policy change to advance and protect the rights of LGBTQ Idahoans.

Few municipalities in the state protect LGBTQ people from discrimination. The ACLU will target two cities in Idaho to get these protections. One is Caldwell, a city of significant population near Boise that currently includes sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy, but not gender identity. The other is Weiser, a small rural community that does not include either sexual orientation or gender identity in its non-discrimination policy.

“With the closure of some of our ally organizations over the past year, it is more important now than ever for the ACLU of Idaho to continue and focus on our LGBT Equality work,” says Hannah Brass, the organization’s public policy director/counsel.

“We’d like to thank the Pride Foundation for its generous grant to help us establish the LGBT Equality Project at the ACLU of Idaho. Through the work of this project, we will bring together community members, policy makers, supporters and allies to achieve our vision of a fair and just Idaho.”

Boise Contemporary Theater

Boise Contemporary Theater was awarded $5,000 to produce the play Norway by Idaho native Samuel D. Hunter. The play tells the story of a young gay man whose best friend is questioning a lot of things in life. By accident, the best friend outs the gay man, who is subsequently asked to leave the Christian school they attend. They encounter each other later in life, but fail to make a satisfactory connection. Norway is a play that acknowledges, embraces, and explores the immense complexity of humanity by refusing to let there be easy answers.

The play runs from Jan. 26 to Feb. 19, 2011 and is directed by BCT Artistic Director Matthew Cameron Clark.

“BCT’s mission is to produce vibrant, dynamic contemporary theater,” says Helene Peterson, the company’s managing director.

“To be able to produce a play by an Idaho playwright at BCT is great. LGBTQ issues are always in the news, whether it be coming out stories or what’s happening with bullying. While this play does not directly dwell on those subjects, it is a coming out story. We felt the play was important and timely. It’s a very compelling piece of theater.”

Idaho Human Rights Education Center – Idaho Safe Schools Coalition

The Idaho Human Rights Education Center was awarded $5,000 for the work of the Idaho Safe Schools Coalition, a grassroots partnership of community organizations, schools, churches, youth, parents and educators dedicated to ensuring that every child feels safe attending school – especially those who are perceived and/or identify as LGBTQ, and/or are children of LGBTQ families.

Through direct outreach, the coalition provides advocacy for students and resources and skill-based training to educators. The coalition will strengthen its statewide network of high school Gay-Straight Alliances and human rights clubs by equipping them with resources to address anti-LGBTQ sentiment among their peers, teachers and administrators. Youth Night brings LGBTQ youth and their allies together for a night of socializing, education, sharing and planning. A twice-annual Youth Leadership Workshop offers resources, skill-building and education tailored to student leaders.

The Idaho Human Rights Education Center founded the Coalition six years ago and is its nonprofit fiscal sponsor, providing institution support for the group.

“Their programs are integrated with our own,” says Center Executive Director Amy Herzfeld, “dedicated to creating a culture of human rights in Idaho schools, professional development with teachers, technical support for students, and ensuring safety for marginalized youth.”

The Center plans to use the Pride Foundation grant to provide leadership opportunities for students active in the Coalition, including travel to training workshops and conferences such as the National Gay and Lesbian Creating Change workshop in Minneapolis in February 2011. The grant will also help provide support for ongoing Coalition programs such as Youth Night.

Legal Voice

Seattle-based legislative and legal advocacy organization Legal Voice was awarded a $5,000 grant to build outreach and engagement of allies in Idaho to further LGBTQ rights in Idaho through impact litigation. Given the conservatism of the state, Legal Voice considers impact litigation as the only advocacy strategy that appears potentially viable, in the short or intermediate term, to challenge discriminatory, homophobic and sexist practices and policies of the state.

Goals for 2010-2013 are to advance LGBTQ relationship and parenting rights in the areas of: second-parent adoption rights for LGBTQ parents; custody and visitation rights for non-biological LGBTQ parents; and/or property and inheritance rights for non-married couples.

Legal Voice was founded in 1978 and much of its work has focused on women’s rights and LGBTQ issues in the Northwest.

“We’re hoping to find ways to expand the recognition of LGBTQ families in Idaho and improve laws to recognize LGBTQ parents,” says Legal Voice attorney David Ward.

“This grant will help us with travel and building relationships in Idaho. We’re building a foundation for moving forward and every advancement is going to help.”

Lion’s Pride Cubs

Boise-based youth group Lion’s Pride Cubs was awarded $5,000 for members to attend the Northwest LGBTA Youth Conference for Hope to be held in Boise in July 2011. Funds will be used for rental space, lodging and meals for conference goers, keynote speaker’s travel expenses, materials for workshops, and evening entertainment. Workshops will include creating and maintaining high school GSAs, religion and the LGBTQ community, how to be an affirming parent or guardian, and how to be safe and out in school.

Lion’s Pride Cubs is a sister group to Lion’s Pride, a LGBTQ community online resource organization, both chaired by Donna Harwood, who founded Lion’s Pride in 2006. Lion’s Pride Cubs evolved out of a former queer youth group called Young Gay Boise, which Harwood helped nurture and grow while listing the group’s activities on Lion’s Pride’s website.

“Our vision for it is ‘PFLAG meets a GSA,’” Harwood says. “It’s a safe place for kids to go, and a support group for families with LGBTQ members.”

Meet our new regional staff team!

We are thrilled to welcome five new Regional Development Organizers to the Pride Foundation staff team!

From Anchorage to Bozeman, to Eugene to Idaho Falls – Pride Foundation is deeply committed to building and sustaining local leaders and organizations to increase visibility for LGBTQ people across the greater Northwest. Over this past year, staff, volunteers and donors have been working together to determine how to best leverage and increase Pride Foundation’s prior work in regional and rural communities. We’re so excited to expand our regional commitment.

By investing in full-time staff members in  Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Western Washington to lead our philanthropic and community development strategies, we know that we can increase our understanding of local issues and work better and even more collaboratively to build the future of equality in the Northwest.

We thank you in advance for your hospitality and support of these incredible individuals.

You will have a chance to meet these amazing new additions to our team once they all start in January 2011. In the meantime, please take a moment to learn a bit more about the entire regional team:

Tiffany McClain – Alaska

Growing up in St. Louis, MO – a humid, mountain-less city of brick and concrete, where two weeks of Girl Scout camp seemed like the roughest of adventures – I never imagined I’d end up living in Alaska. But I’ve never felt more at home than I do in Anchorage and am excited that I’ve been offered the opportunity to engage my passion for social justice and community organizing while living in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Grants from Pride Foundation made possible many of the projects I worked on as the LGBTQ Public Policy Coordinator for the ACLU of Alaska and now I get to support the efforts of other activists, artists, and service-providers who are working to improve the lives of LGBTQ Alaskans. When I‘m not working, you can find me outside soaking up Alaska’s beauty, daydreaming about my next travel adventure, or hiding from the cold in a nice, warm movie theatre or bookstore.

Steve Martin – Idaho
Steve Martin proudly joins the Pride Foundation as the Regional Development Organizer for the State of Idaho after a 20-year career in journalism, and many years of social justice volunteerism for many LGBTQ organizations and events in Idaho, including chairing The Community Center in Boise, organizing activities related to Boise’s annual Gay Pride celebration, and leading a gay theater troupe, Spontaneous Productions. Steve has resided in the Boise area for 30 years, graduating from Caldwell High School, and earning a degree in English from Boise State University. Since 1997, Steve has lived in Boise’s North End, where he shares his life with his life partner, Jim Smith, a biology professor at Boise State.

Caitlin Copple – Montana
Caitlin Copple has been a volunteer with Pride Foundation’s Montana efforts since 2006. She has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Montana and is a co-founder of Out Words, Montana’s LGBTIQ newspaper. Previously, Caitlin has worked as a massage therapist, Pilates instructor, freelance writer, and more recently as the marketing and communications coordinator for YWCA Missoula and the associate director of the Montana Innocence Project. Caitlin enjoys volunteering with causes committed to equality, enjoying Montana’s great outdoors, and spending time with her partner, Katherine, and their pooch, Chekhov.

Karen Petersen – Oregon

Karen is a fairly rare type of Oregonian – one born and raised here. I’ve split my  life pretty equally between small town Oregon – how small town? I didn’t live within 50 miles of a McDonald’s until I was 20 years old! – and big-city Oregon, having lived in the Portland-metro area now for the last 14 years. I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and I’ve spent the last nine years of my life working for and volunteering with nonprofits that strive to make Oregon a place where its citizens are open-minded and accepting, and treat each other with fairness, equality and respect. And when I’m not doing that, I can probably be found reading, watching movies, or shoe shopping.

Uma Rao – Western Washington
I grew up in Virginia and came to the beautiful Northwest in 2004. It’s hard to leave once you get here, isn’t it? I’ve been passionate about anti-violence and social justice movements for 13 years. My passions have been fed by my mentors and peers, as well as my family and South Asian community. My roles have been to organize communities, serve on boards, train, and to raise funds. I currently serve on the board of directors for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.  I believe that stronger movements include grassroots philanthropy, community based strategies and leadership development – all things that Pride Foundation does! I’m excited to be on this team and look forward to meeting you soon! Aside from working for change, some of my most favorite things include hot cups of chai tea, great stories and dancing to loud music in the mornings.

Farand Gunnels – Eastern Washington

Farand Gunnels, a long-time Pride Foundation employee, joins the team as the Regional Development Organizer for Eastern Washington.

I was born in Crow Agency, Montana in 1972 and raised in Billings, Montana. I identify as a Native Two Spirit from the Crow Nation. In 1993 I moved to Spokane, Washington where I met my partner, David, three years later. I began my journey with Pride Foundation serving on the local steering committee which led to my employment in 2002. I am passionate about the work I do at Pride Foundation, whose mission, vision, and values ring true to my heart. The most inspiring part of my job is meeting with and hearing the stories of such talented, hardworking people and organizations throughout the regions that are making such a difference in their communities. Outside of Pride Foundation I serve on the board of the Montana Two Spirit Society. I enjoy geocaching, riding my scooter, watching movies, singing, dancing, fine food, and fall weather.

Read more about all Pride Foundation staff.

What’s your story? Help us celebrate 25 years!

Pride Foundation’s history is a collection of stories – your stories. They are stories about challenge, isolation and struggle. And they are stories of community, resilience and triumph.

Visit our special anniversary website at IamPrideFoundation.org and share your story today! What does Pride Foundation mean to you and your local community? Where would you like to see us 25 years from now?

After 25 years of giving together and building community there are literally thousands of stories that show the remarkable progress made in our push for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality. We will continue adding stories throughout the year and we hope you will include yours. While there be sure to check out our timeline and the listing of special anniversary events happening around the region throughout the year.

Mid-Columbia Pride Rainbow Award Winners

It was a stunning scenic drive across Washington State last Friday as I headed off to Kennewick to kick off Mid-Columbia Pride Week at the 2nd Annual Rainbow Awards held at Allenbaugh Farms. Pride Foundation sponsors the Rainbow Awards to recognize individuals, businesses, and groups whose efforts have had a positive effect on the LGBT community in the Columbia Basin region.

Congratulations to this year’s Rainbow Award winners:

Ally Rainbow Award
Heidi Eieler from Pendleton Oregon

Over ten years Heidi has dedicated her life to HIV/AIDS education and support for many LGBT people in Eastern Oregon and Washington.

Group Rainbow Award
Ernie & Kaye Swartout From Ephrata Washington

Ernie and Kaye helped plan the first Washington State P-Flag (Parents Family and Friends of Gay’s and Lesbians) conference that was held in Ephratra Washington.

Individual Rainbow Award
Brian Griffith from Pasco, Washington

For his outstanding efforts to help lead phone banking for the Approve R71 Campaign in the Tri-Cities area, and for raising thousands of dollars for many LGBT organizations across Washington state as Drag Queen Diva “Roxanne Von Cummings” Miss Gay Washington 2009-2010

Over the Rainbow Award
Club Out and About In Pasco, Washington

Since 1996 Out and About has continuously opened their doors to various non-profit organizations raising funds for LGBT equality, and being a source of entertainment for the Columbia Basin Community.

Special thanks to host Jason Kildall, Pride Foundation Columbia Basin Community Organizer Topher Mobley, Board Member Doug Exworthy and Board Chair Joyce Allen for participating in the event.

Ed and Delores Boyle were there

Kitsap County Pride kicked off last Thursday with an evening honoring Ed and Delores Boyle with the Pride Foundation Community Treasure Award for their years of dedication and service to the LGBT community.

What haven’t Ed and Delores Boyle been involved with? In a thoughtful and funny toast to the Boyles, their friend Al Brownelle had the crowd at Olympic Unitarian Universalist Fellowship chanting “Ed and Delores were there!” when Al started listing off all the events and activities he had seen Ed and Delores at over the years.

Ed and Delores have been active in several LGBT organizations and projects including PFLAG Bremerton, Southern Poverty Law Center and Teaching Tolerance, Project Open Mind, The Face of AIDS program on BKAT in Bremerton. They belong to “The Names Project” and went to Washington DC in 1996 to help display the Quilt. They have been to many Quilt displays throughout Washington State and continue working to get the Quilt displayed in places where local authorities have been resistant.

They were inspired by the loss of their son, John, who passed away from AIDS-related causes in 1992.

“In 1990 John called home and told me he was HIV+ and asked if he could come home until he got well,” recounts Ed.

“During that time I took John to Portland [for medical treatments] every month from Poulsbo. It was a 6 hour round trip. We had a lot of time together and became very close. I’m retired from the Navy. John taught me a lot about communicating and relating to people. He taught me to hug.”

Chances are if you’ve been involved in LGBT or HIV/AIDS issues on the Washington Peninsula you’ve seen these two folks contributing with their time, talent and thoughtfulness. It was an honor for me to provide Pride Foundation greetings at the event because they are such an inspiration. You look at their involvement and you wonder what the world could look like if everyone was half as involved as these two marvelous people.

Special thanks go out to Pride Foundation/Washington Peninsula’s Community Organizer Abdel Rodriquez, board member Mike Kleer and the volunteer steering committee and the local leaders that helped run the event including Sherry & Hank Pangborn, Natalie Bryson, Michael Goodnow, Ken Olson, Ann Lovell, Dean Lewis and Master of Ceremonies Paul Opheim.