GLAAD announced today that it is accepting applications for the Rising Stars Grants at the 2019 GLAAD Gala San Francisco.

The Rising Stars Grant for digital innovation honors and supports young people’s commitment to culture-changing work in the fields of social media, digital media, and technology.

The grant is offered annually to young people ages 18-30 who are using social media, digital media, or technology to enhance LGBTQ people's experiences online and in their communities. Recipient(s) will receive $2,500 to fund their work and will be honored at the GLAAD Gala San Francisco on Saturday, September 28, 2019. Hotel and travel accommodations are included.

To become a recipient of the Rising Stars Digital Innovator Grant, applicants must complete the online application form and include a 90-second (or less) video explaining how their project(s) are enhancing the experiences of LGBTQ people online and in their communities. The grant is available to individuals as well as teams; applicants can submit an application based on their own project or on behalf of a team project. Applications are due September 8, 2019 by midnight PST.

Applicants must be available to travel to San Francisco, CA for the GLAAD Gala San Francisco. Applicants are asked to hold the following dates on their calendars: 9/27/19 - 9/29/19.

2018 GLAAD Rising Stars Grant recipients, Daniel Downer, Zizi Bandera, and Jackson Bird (L-R). Getty Images for GLAAD.

Previous recipients of the Rising Stars Grant for digital innovation include: Linday Amer, educator and host of the viral YouTube series Queer Kids Stuff, Prince Shakur, host of the YouTube travel series Two Woke Minds, and Dani Marrero Hi, journalist and director of the bilingual multimedia platform Neta, among others.

More Rising Stars Grants have been awarded at the GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies held in Los Angeles and New York. In the past, grant recipients at these events have had the opportunity to speak about LGBTQ advocacy with celebrities such as Troye Sivan, Ava Duvernay, and MJ Rodriguez.

A GLAAD-appointed committee will select grant recipients using the following criteria:

• Applicant’s initiative positively affects marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ people.
• Applicant’s initiative uses innovative strategies to enhance the experiences of LGBTQ people using social and digital media or technology.
• Applicant’s initiative enhances representation for LGBTQ people through media advocacy.
• Applicant’s initiative uses an intersectional approach to LGBTQ advocacy.

Key dates for applicants:

• Tuesday, August 20, 2019: Applications available.
• Sunday, September 8, 2019: Applications due by midnight PST.
• Monday, September 16, 2019: All applicants are notified of status; recipients notified.
• Saturday, September 28, 2019: Select Rising Stars Grant recipient(s) to attend GLAAD Gala San Francisco.