Youth Leadership Award

Nathan Handberg is a recent graduate of  Freedom High School in Chantilly, Virginia. Nathan is a compassionate leader, having run their school’s LGBTQ club and…

Jonathan Yannes is a recent graduate of  James Hubert Blake High School in  Silver Spring, Maryland. Jonathan is  an outspoken leader in not only his school, b…

Malik Ivey is a  recent graduate of  the SEED School of Washington, DC. Malik brings energy, creativity, and curiosity to his many leadership roles. Malik is a…

Jackson Newman is a recent graduate of  George C. Marshall High School  in Falls Church, Virginia. Jack  is fierce advocate for LGBTQ youth in the DMV area. As…

Hannah Jones is as recent graduate of  Wakefield High School in Claremont, Virginia. Hannah is a natural leader, having served as the President of her school’s…

Max Hancock is a recent graduate of Broadneck High School in Annapolis, Maryland. Max is an exemplary leader, having served as the President of his high school…

Zion Miller is a senior at Stonewall Jackson High School, in Manassas, Virginia. Zion is the president of Pride Club, Black Student Union, and Peer Diversity. …

Leo Bassow is a proud leading member of the School Without Walls’ Gender and Sexuality Alliance. An avid artist, Leo focuses much of his artwork around the ide…

James van Kuilenburg is a trans youth advocate in his school and community. He is the founding president of his school’s GSA, as well as the grassroots trans a…

Vivian Soler is a high school senior at the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, VA.Vivian’s work through a leadership class at H-B Woodlawn focused on…

Grace Dolan-Sandrino is an activist and advocate for marginalized youth. She has written for publications such as Teen Vogue, and The Washington Post, and has …

Elizabeth Moore graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Virginia. As a senior, Elizabeth was Vice President of her GSA. Elizabeth focused on growing t…

Addison Moore graduated from Paul International High School in Washington, DC. They co-founded their high school’s GSA to make the school safer for LGBTQ stude…

Reeves Gift is a Trinidadian-American filmmaker who strives to heal the world. His work with youth advocacy has come through engagement with his school communi…

From advocating to have a GSA in his high school, to connecting his peers with resources, Miles is being acknowledged for his strong commitment to helping othe…

Queen has started her own organization, Keeping the Arts Alive (KAA), which advocates for arts education to remain a well funded area in schools and reached ou…

Joshua is being recognized for his involvement in Wilson’s Gay-Straight Alliance, SMYAL’s Activist Camp, and his leadership in theatre.

Brandon is being recognized for being an active member of his school community by being a leader and advocate in his school’s Student Government Association...

Rowan is being recognized for his ability to educate others about issues facing the transgender community and for his constant search to find justice.

We are honoring Olatunji for his strength and perseverance in the face of bullying and mis- understanding at school, for his dedicated giving back to his commu…

We are honoring Nancy for her integrity and drive, for her commitment to being an out and proud leader in her school, and for being a visible resource for her …

We are honoring Bennett for their commitment to social justice, their perseverance in the face of bullying, and their demonstrated personal integrity.

We are honoring Azariah for their tenacity as an out LGBTQ leader, for their incredible intentionality in their approach to leadership, and for their unwaverin…

We are honoring Rami for his perseverance as an out LGBTQ leader in the face of his personal obstacles.

We are honoring Monet for her commitment to her radical politics, for her drive to eradicate spaces where people may feel disposable or undervalued...

Erika Johnson is a recent Oxon Hill High School graduate where she was the president of her Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).

Kaali- yah was co-president of her GSA, in which she facilitated weekly conversations on is- sues facing LGBTQ people.

Carlos is excited to advocate for issues such as workplace discrimination and adoption rights that many LGBTQ people still face.

At Wanda Alston, Maya shined as a leader, using her motivation to work with her peers to realize their passions and support them in their struggles.

Emily Pearson-Beck graduated from Washington-Lee where she was Co-President for her school’s GSA. Recently, she organized a letter campaign to allow middle sch…