THRIVE Southwest PA

We're proud to announce that 14 stellar projects will be funded this school year through the SWPA LGBTQIA Inclusive Schools grant process! Congratulations to our grantees, including: Ambridge Area High School, Assemble, Brashear High School, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Mattress Factory - Museum of Contemporary Art, Dreams of Hope, Persad Center, Perry Traditional Academy, 1Hood Media, Project Silk, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, Shaler Area High School, South Fayette Twp High School, Trinity High School (Washington, Pennsylvania), Urban Pathways Charter School 6-12, Wilkinsburg School District, SisTers PGH, and Woodland Hills High School.

Do you know any queer, trans, or allied youth (ages 13-21) with an interest in theater, visual art, or music? Let them know Dreams of Hope is holding auditions for theatriQ on September 19 and 20. Applications are due tomorrow! http://www.dreamsofhope.org/auditions

Never try to categorize or define what being nonbinary means or looks like for an individual especially if those concepts are clouded by racism, fatphobia, ableism, classism, misogyny, or any other form of oppression. A person's name, pronouns, and presentation does not define their gender. Rather, these are tools that some of us may or may not use to help communicate or validate our identities externally, but they can never fully encapsulate the matrices of colors and light that are refracted within us.

I am so grateful that I can just focus on being a regular kid at school. I have so many other things on my mind, like getting into my top college choice, so I don’t want to have to worry about whether I can use the boys’ restroom, said Drew Adams. It was upsetting to think my school didn’t want me because I am transgender, and I hope no one else has to feel like that. https://www.lambdalegal.org//20180726_victory-court-orders

Applicants for the SWPA LGBTQIA Inclusive Schools grants will hear back today about final decisions!Applicants for the SWPA LGBTQIA Inclusive Schools grants will hear back today about final decisions!