Live Out Loud Honors LGBT Youth at Annual Benefit

Live Out Loud held its Seventh Annual Young Trailblazers Benefit Gala at the Chelsea Art Museum Monday night. The event honored four high school seniors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship for their activism. The evening was hosted by Broadway actor Cheyenne Jackson and included fashion designers Thom Browne, John Bartlett, and Ralph Rucci.

“I’ve been blown away because it’s been a few months since I got involved with [Live Out Loud],” said Jackson. “I thought I was making a little bit of a difference and doing something special, but it’s nothing compared to what these kids are doing.”

Live Out Loud awards annual scholarships to LGBT high school students who help create an atmosphere of tolerance within their community. The recipients this year are Nelson Rodriguez, Raymond Martinez, Tiffany Studer, and Luis Garay.

“I am so honored that I got this, I did not expect it. I feel so great that people are happy with what I did,” said Studer, who is president of the gay-straight alliance at her school. “Discriminating against someone is pretty much being ignorant of the fact that people are different.”

The goal of Live Out Loud is to connect LGBT youth to out professional role models who provide positive examples and help create a pathway for them in today’s world. The scholarships provide students with funding for their college education in the hopes that they will continue their endeavors for the future.

“It is my dream to start an [LGBT] program of my own,” says Martinez, who will be attending Staten Island University next year. “I know the work I’m doing will benefit someone else one day.”

Among those attending the gala was Project Runway alumni Malan Breton, who thinks what these students are doing is pivotal in the road to acceptance.

“I don’t understand why in the 21st century it’s still necessary to degrade people,” said Breton. “The way things are in the world right now, it’s becoming harder for us. I’m very excited to see who is honored with the scholarship this year.”

During the award ceremony, Live Out Loud announced plans to go forward with a television project called Homecoming, which chronicles the stories of successful LGBT individuals returning to their high schools to mentor a new generation of LGBT students. The project will be produced pro bono by Showtime, and Alan Cumming is onboard as the host.

Since 2001, Live Out Loud programs, all free of charge, have reached more than 5,000 New York City students through panel discussions, speaker bureaus, and a workshop series. Programs usually are held in the afternoon when the school day has concluded or as part of an after-school program. (Paul Florez, The Advocate)