Coming out can pay out

A look at scholarships for gay students only

By Errol Tremolada and Michael Klein
From the October 2004 Print Edition

Many students struggle each semester with how they will be able to pay for their college tuition. Among the potential solutions to this dilemma, one may seek out scholarships. According to Dictionary.com, a scholarship is defined as “financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit.” Most applicants for a scholarship expect to be asked to provide information with regards to their academic and personal achievements. As some UC Berkeley students have recently discovered, however, is that there are many other factors that may play a role in selectivity. In fact, to get the edge over other scholarship applicants, you will usually need more than a glowing grade point average. One such special criteria recently seen on the Berkeley campus has put a spotlight on sexuality.

Gay students across the country have been offered scholarships due to the combined desirability of their achievements and sexual orientation. The Point Foundation, the first group to specifically offer nation-wide scholarships by taking sexual orientation into consideration, has allocated over one million dollars in scholarship money since 2001 to college homosexuals. In return for these generous scholarships, recipients are required to maintain academic excellence, support The Point Foundation in the future, and give back to the Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender (LGBT) community through an individual service project.

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is another group that has been funding scholarships for students of gay parents and, as reported by CNN, “straight students who have worked to reduce homophobia in their communities.” In January of 2003, the group announced its brand new scholarship for incoming gay college athletes, which they named after former NFL defensive back Esera Tuaolo. This scholarship seeks out high school students who are openly gay and actively participating in athletic programs.

More locally, the California Alumni Association chartered the UC Gay and Lesbian Alumni Club (UCGALA). Since 1986, the group has offered the UCGALA Scholarship worth $1,500 to students that are gay, lesbian, transgendered, intersexual, or actively supporting gay rights at Cal. This scholarship places a specific emphasis on strong leadership skills and campus involvement.

“The primary purpose of a scholarship is to send a student of financial need with academic promise to his/her school of choice. How or why the scholarship is acquired shouldn’t matter, even if it’s controversial. The student can be a pronounced gay rights activist, but if they’re not of academic merit, scholarships should not just be handed out,” said UC Berkeley student Victor Chen.

Where does all this financial support come from? The Pride Foundation, which since 1993 has given out $627,000 in LGBT scholarships, partners with local Seattle business associations for some of the administration of its scholarships. Soliciting donations from the community, Pride boasts over 4,000 donors willing to support their cause and vision of seeing “thriving regional gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied communities.” A band of national LGBT AT&T employees coalesced in 1992 to form the LEAGUE National in order to foster the common voice and image of Pride, visibility, and equity they desire in the workplace. Now LEAGUE members contribute to their college scholarship program heartily in hopes of raising up leaders, activists, and diverse individuals to carry their flame into the future. Similarly, the PG&E Pride Network association of employees contributes funds for scholarships.

Many non-profit organizations have supported homosexual scholarship foundations in hopes of creating an awareness and base of advocacy for the gay community. As reported by CNN, Julia Schell of Colombia University received scholarships from The Point Foundation because she is a lesbian doctoral student. She says that the money has helped her, but the emotional support of the foundation is what truly lends to her success.

In an article from the Daily Californian last month, John Klenert, the director of the LEAGUE Foundation, is quoted as saying, “It’s really hard for students in high school. They face challenges, especially when they come out.”

Overall, gay scholarships range in value from hundreds of dollars to $10,000 and upwards. “Private people should be allowed to offer money to private students,” said Billy Curtin, director of Berkeley’s Gender Equity Resource Center.

Many of the gay scholarship foundations today desire to see increased diversity and activism in the LGBT community for the future, and usually some commitment to that end of their scholarship recipients. Gay scholarships, while upholding a standard of academic achievement, emphasize the leadership an applicant has displayed in the gay community. Considering the current issues facing the American LBGT community, the training of such leaders has never been of greater concern.

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