Youth Leadership Award

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. In the past year, Zion has initiated an LGBTQ+ book club, and advocated…

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 idea and theme of queerness. This year has been an incredible personal…

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 advocacy group, Support FCPS Trans Students. In 2017, he led the…

Hannah Soler is a high school senior at the H-B Woodlawn Secondary Program in Arlington, VA.Hannah’s work through a leadership class at H-B Woodlawn focused on supporting and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and the school’s Gender and Sexuality…

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 served as a representative for organizations such as the Aspen Institute, the Kennedy Center,…

Elizabeth Moore graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Virginia. As a senior, Elizabeth was Vice President of her GSA. Elizabeth focused on growing the program, and making everyone feel safe. In the fall, she will attend James Madison…

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 students. Over the past four years, Addison has worked with SMYAL both as a youth,…

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 community, as well as through his filmmaking. In the fall, Reeves will attend University of…

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 others.

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 out to youth programs across Maryland.

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 community, and for being an out and proud LGBTQ youth.

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 school peers who may need support.

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 unwavering commitment to supporting peers.

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 school students to learn about sexuality.