Pride Foundation’s Scholarship Program supports LGBTQ+ students who have faced incredible barriers, regardless of school, major, or GPA. Since awarding our first scholarship in 1993, we have awarded over $6 million to more than 1,800 students in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Every year, a group of amazing volunteers lends their time and brilliance
I’m writing you today with a message about joy and hope. It might not be the message you want to hear right now, or the message you are ready to hear, but—if you’re like me—it may be the message you need. This past year was rough—there have been things we’ve all needed to
In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’ll be lifting up stories of Black LGBTQ+ activists and change makers that are so often left out of the broader narrative. Throughout February, keep your eye out for these stories on our social media and on this page of historical Black LGBTQ+ leaders, Black LGBTQ+ leaders making history here and
These first few weeks of 2021 have already held a lot. To me, January has gone by in a blur of joy and outrage, anxiety and hopefulness. While all of those elements remain, I want to acknowledge several bright spots for the start of our year. Here are three cool things for our Pride Foundation
This morning I woke up reflecting on all that has happened since this day in 2020. I was struck by how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is different this year, in ways that are especially relevant to honoring his memory. In the past year, we’ve experienced a global pandemic that has cost the
I watched in horror and anger yesterday as white supremacist terrorists led a violent insurrection that attempted to undermine our democracy, our elections, and our voices. I don’t need to recount the events of what happened. If you’re like me, you’ve been glued to the news every moment since early yesterday afternoon. What I must
This year, community organizations across our region have been reimagining their work in pursuit of equity, justice, and community care. Portland, Oregon’s Ori Gallery is a space dedicated to amplifying the voices of trans and queer artists of color. Normally a home for in-person exhibitions, Ori has pivoted to hosting individual residencies for artists affected by
![Pictured: NW landscapes, interspersed with photos of 2020 grantees [clockwise from top] SAGE Metro Portland, Inclusive Idaho, Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic, and UTOPIA Seattle.](https://ls54l2hza1y3kgz1q15jx48p-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/6CT60S-Email-Collage-large-300x169.png)
To say that this year has held a lot is such an understatement. 2020 called each of us to get very clear in our purpose. At Pride Foundation, ours has been crystal clear: to show up in all the ways we can for LGBTQ+ people and communities in the Northwest. Despite the challenges of this
As the pandemic spread this year, LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness faced compounding challenges finding shelter, safety, and belonging. In Alaska, the volunteer collective Choosing Our Roots responded immediately by expanding their efforts to find safe and supportive places for LGBTQ+ youth to live, and creating online spaces of connection that are especially critical for youth in rural communities. This year, Pride Foundation’s
“When I’m going through my classes and I’m having a particularly hard time getting through it, I like to remind myself that, in the end, when I graduate, I get to be one of those people that helps other people understand that they’re beautiful and they’re valid and they matter.” Maxwell Storm Blue is