GLAAD announced today that it is accepting applications for the 2019 Rising Stars Grants at GLAAD’s Concert for Love and Acceptance.

The GLAAD Rising Stars Grant Program celebrates young people’s commitment to accelerating LGBTQ acceptance within their communities and culture at large.

The grant, named after trailblazer and out country music star, Ty Herndon, is offered to support young people for their commitment to enhancing LGBTQ inclusion and representation in music. The recipient of the Ty Herndon Rising Stars Grant will receive $2,500 to further fund their work and initiatives and will be honored at the 2019 Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville, TN on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Hotel and travel accommodations included.

To become a recipient of the Ty Herndon Rising Stars Grant, applicants must complete the online application form located on glaad.org/risingstars, and submit a short video essay. The 2019 Rising Stars Grants are available to a person or team of people, between the ages of 18 and 30, who are working to enhance LGBTQ representation within their communities and culture at large, specifically in the music industry. Applications are due Sunday, May 19th, 2019 by midnight PST.

*Applicants must be available to travel to Nashville, TN on Thursday, June 6th, 2019. Applicants are asked to hold the following dates on their calendars (06/5/2019 - 06/6/2019).

Former Rising Stars Grant recipients have been honored for their thoughtful work to address many issues facing their local communities, including: producing music videos to feature LGBTQ storylines and hire LGBTQ actors and production members, increasing diversity of performers on college campuses by funding transgender entertainers and speakers, fostering conversation around diverse representation in entertainment through a digital journalism project, and more!

The details

A GLAAD-appointed committee will select recipients based on the strength of the following criteria:

• Applicant’s initiative works to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people in the music industry.
• Applicant’s initiative positively affects marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ people.
• Applicant’s initiative uses media advocacy to enhance representation for LGBTQ people.
• Applicant’s initiative uses an intersectional approach to LGBTQ advocacy.

Key dates for applicants:

• Monday, April 22nd, 2019: Applications available.
• Sunday, May 19th, 2019: Applications due by midnight PST.
• Friday, May 24th, 2019: All applicants are notified of status; recipients notified.
• Thursday, June 6th, 2019: Select Rising Stars Grant recipient to attend the Concert for Love and Acceptance in Nashville, TN.

Click Here to Apply