Colin Higgins Courage Awardees Frank Armenta, Terra Tempest Moore,
and Lance Hicks (l-r). Photo: Tierney Gleason

As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stonewall with hopes to realize the dream of equal rights for all, many activists feel promises made during election season have turned into ambivalence at the White House.

At Tides, a leading funder of LGBT work , we believe and promote the basic tenant that human rights are fundamental and encompass the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, gender non-conforming, and other people in the community referred to by the common, yet imprecise, term LGBT.

Young Activists Receive
Colin Higgins Courage Awards

The Colin Higgins Foundation at Tides is proud to honor three extraordinary individuals with $10,000 grants for courageous contributions they make in their communities. Coming from across the country, each of the awardees has their own unique story, yet they share hardships common to many LGBT youth: from enduring physical and emotional abuse from family members, to being kicked out of their homes, to seeking social services from providers that have no training on issues facing LGBT youth, to confronting bullying and harassment—from both students and administrators—in public schools. Read about the outstanding achievements of Frank Armenta, Terra Tempest Moore, and Lance Hicks.

LGBT Leaders at Momentum

Register now to participate in Momentum, Tides' leadership conference, and hear from some of the sector's most notable leaders working to advance LGBT rights. Just over a month out, the Momentum conference will cover a spectrum of progressive issues. If you haven't registered, do so now, as Momentum is sure to sell out.

Kate Kendell leads the National Center for Lesbian Rights, committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education.

Gene Robinson, the Ninth Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, is widely recognized for his work on civil rights for gay, lesbian, and transgender people, as well as for advocating for debt relief, socially responsible investment, and access to healthcare.

Momentum After Hours offers an opportunity for those that cannot attend Momentum to connect with speakers and attendees in a casual setting. View or subscribe to the Tides Momentum Events Calendar here.

The Latest Activism & Ideas

• National Equality March, Oct. 10-11 in Washington, DC
• LGBT Equality Task Force: a partnership with the NAACP, announced at their recent historic 100th Annual Convention, and Tides grantee National Black Justice Coalition, the first black LGBT group to address the Convention
• In the Life: Documentary stories from the gay experience, a Tides-funded program, features Glenn Francis interviewing Kris Hayashi of the The Audre Lorde Project about work for LGBT people to gain access to public assistance
• Political Shifts on Gay Rights Lag Behind Culture in the New York Times
• FIERCE, a Tides grantee works to establish a 24-hour LGBTQ youth drop-in center on Pier 40 in NYC; watch youth-produced videos about the fight
• Hate Violence Against LGBT People in the U.S.: the most recent data available, includes a piece by grantee Just Detention International on rampant sexual abuse of LGBT prisoners

HIV/AIDS & the LGBT community

• Fighting Homophobia to Fight HIV: videos, resources from CHAMP
• Undermining Public Health and Human Rights, report on the U.S.'s HIV travel and immigration ban, from Gay Men's Health Crisis
• Stigma driving AIDS crisis among African gays: Lancet. Silence, repression, discrimination amplifying dangers for men who have sex with men

Marriage equality

• What's Right With Utah by Lisa Duggan of NYU on Utah Pride Center, a Tides grantee
• Lessons from the Fight for Gay Marriage
• Prepare to Prevail: Why We Must Wait In Order to Win back marriage equality in California

LGBT seniors

• Tides project Lavender Seniors, based in the east SF Bay Area
• Gay seniors lack social safety net
• National LGBT senior movement grows up

STAFF UPDATE

Tides is thrilled to announce Gary D. Schwartz, Senior Vice President and long-time head of our New York Office, has accepted the role of Managing Director for Tides Foundation. Gary joined Tides in 1999 after serving as Executive Director of the Fund of the Four Directions, which supported indigenous peoples' organizing, women's empowerment, and environmental sustainability. Gary has spent his entire career in the nonprofit arena, including tenures at the Houston Area Women's Center and Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York. More >

FEATURED EVENT

Momentum
Registration Open!
September 7-9
W San Francisco

Activist scholarship deadline: Aug. 2

Recently confirmed speakers include Amy Goodman, Bishop Gene Robinson, and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.

OPEN RFPs

Global Security and Cooperation Initiative
of Connect U.S. Fund,
a Tides project, will promote effective responses to critical global issues, conducted in cooperation others in the international community. LOIs due Aug. 3, 2009.

The Death Penalty Mobilization Fund,
a Tides funding collaborative, supports strategic collaborations of local, regional, or national nonprofits working to abolish the death penalty. Applications due Aug. 17, 2009.

OTHER TIDES LINKS