January 28, 2008

Equity Action grants strengthen organizations, build capacity to address critical issues

$19,000 supports projects assisting LGBTQQ youth, families, and individuals

Two organizations serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQQ) communities throughout Rhode Island are beneficiaries of the latest round of grantmaking by Equity Action, an initiative of The Rhode Island Foundation.

These most recent awards bring total grants supporting LGBTQQ organizations to more than $346,000 since Equity Action was established at the Foundation in July 2002. The grants address critical priorities including advocating for civil rights and protections, building community cohesiveness, and increasing awareness and visibility of LGBTQQ communities.

Organizations receiving Equity Action grants and their funded projects are:

Providence Youth Student Movement assists Southeast Asian LGBTQQ youth
Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) received $10,000 to support its Southeast Asian Queers United for Empowerment and Leadership (seaQuel) program. This grant will help fund five new positions and provide general program operating support. The grant will also help PrYSM accomplish three goals: 1) to continue developing its leadership of Southeast Asian LGBTQQ youth through appropriate trainings, conferences, and through their political education curriculum; 2) to expand and strengthen the mainstream LGBTQQ movement by increasing the visibility of LGBTQQ Southeast Asian Americans locally by strategically joining the governing boards of local LGBTQQ organizations and by becoming active participants; and 3) to challenge homophobia and classism within the Asian American communities through increased visibility at community events and cultural celebrations and by facilitating dialogue and discussions of classism within Asian American organizations and LGBTQQ Asian American organizations.

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) fights for civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and HIV-positive individuals throughout New England
GLAD received $9,000 to support year two of the Civil Rights Project in Rhode Island, a project that seeks to achieve civil rights protection for the LGBTQQ community in Rhode Island through a combination of legal strategies, advocacy, legislative lawyering and public education. The project work plan and activities include working with Rhode Island allies to legalize civil marriage through legislative action; continuing advocacy efforts with the Attorney General and others on marriage respect issues for those same-sex couples married in Massachusetts and working in or having moved to Rhode Island; strengthening the work of local partners that will further the rights of LGBTQQ and HIV-positive communities and helping sustain GLAD’s legal work through the New England Partnership Initiative; continuing to build support in the general public by identifying people with stories that demonstrate needs, risks and harms suffered by being excluded from full protection and recognition under the law, as well as the common humanity of LGBTQQ people; and continuing education of the LGBTQQ and HIV-positive community on the latest Rhode Island law and regulation changes through presentations and workshops, outreach to community groups, publications and the GLAD website.

Upcoming Funding Opportunities
Equity Action has two funding cycles per year for project and capacity-building grants. The next application deadline is April 15, 2008 for grants that range from $2,500 to $15,000. In addition, applications are accepted on a rolling basis for a small grants program for projects up to $2,500. Interested organizations can obtain further information by visiting Equity Action in the “Specials” section of www.rifoundation.org.