
CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network has taken second place in the Pepsi Refresh contest, winning $250,000 to help fund the group's Safe Space campaign and fight antigay bullying in schools.
"When I got the news this morning, I wasn't sure if I was still dreaming," GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said in a statement. "It appears that GLSEN has finished in second place in the Pepsi Refresh voting, winning $250,000 in support of our Safe Space Campaign. The official announcement of the results won't take place until Feb. 23, but it looks as if we've done it."
Daryl Presgraves, GLSEN's media relations manager, said the staff was in third place the night before, and didn't know if they could pull off moving up in the rankings to receive the grant.
"I think a few of the staff hopped on the Pepsi website early this morning, and emails started going around internally with lots of exclamation points," he told The Advocate on Tuesday.
Byard says the funding will help promote adult support for LGBT students in 10,000 schools across the country.
"This funding is going to a truly critical effort to make schools more welcoming places for LGBT students and any student dealing with anti-LGBT bias."
Byard thanked a number of blogs, news outlets and celebrities for their support, including Wilson Cruz, Kristin Chenoweth, Hilary Duff, Cyndi Lauper, The Trevor Project and The Advocate.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Watch Now: Pride Today
Latest Stories
ICE frees transgender asylum seeker from detention after Oregon court order
July 15 2025 5:45 PM
PEPFAR likely to be exempt from spending cuts
July 15 2025 4:50 PM
Man who endured antigay exorcism wins historic settlement with Church of England
July 15 2025 2:40 PM
Boston opens new park named after murdered Black transgender woman Rita Hester
July 15 2025 12:31 PM
Rochester group launches world’s first trans laureate program
July 15 2025 12:00 PM