UPDATE (10/20/2006, 9:10am): Last night at the Triad Business and Professional Guild, I spoke to Johnny McGee, a long respected and active member of the Triad LGBT community and member of the HRC Board of Governors. I told him about my concern on the age ranges chosen for the Gala scholarships and he assured me that members of the Board of Governors and the Gala Co-Chairs were already discussing a possible solution as of yesterday morning. Thanks so much Johnny!
The Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala is again offering young adult dinner scholarships, in order to give youth the chance to attend an event they might not otherwise be able to afford (tickets for the February 24, 2007 dinner cost $175).
There’s been a change this year though. In years past, the ages for the youth dinner scholarship were 18-25. This year it is only available to youth aged 21-25.
What about the 18, 19 and 20 year olds? There are some pretty bright, tallented and committed LGBT/straight ally folk under the age of 21. Do they not deserve a chance to go with the youth scholarship?
(Disclaimer – I’ve been the recipient of the HRC Carolinas youth dinner scholarship two times, once in 2004 when I was in high school and again in 2006. I wasn’t planning on getting the youth dinner scholarship again this year, even though I will be 21 by the time the dinner rolls around, thinking that another youth should have the chance to go.)
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Welcome to InterstateQ.com, the commentary and opinion blog of civic journalist and progressive, LGBT activist Matt Comer. Hailing from Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt, 26, now lives in Charlotte, where he works as editor of 
Matt,
I believe their reasoning for this is because alcohol is served at the event. As a result, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) regulations prohibit the availablity of alochol to minors. I understand your reasoning for challenging, at least through your article, the change in this policy by HRC – but I must admit I support them in this effort.
Not because I don’t think young activist exist or deserve to attend (they do) but if alcohol is made available, this places HRC Carolinas at risk for fines or penalities by ALE if folks under 21 are there. (Can you imagine the headlines from folks like Operation Save America if HRC provided alcohol to minors?!?)
I was a youth scholarship recipient in 2005. Wine was made available to everyone at our table and no one was carded. This frightened me, because I thought, “what if ALE comes in here.” Luckily, everyone at our table was over 21. I can’t speak for folks at other tables.
I too plan on attending the dinner this year, not as a scholarship applicant/recipient, but as an HRC supporter/member. I believe, they should either cut out the alcohol to the scholarship recipients and place an HRC official at each scholarship table – or only allow youth 21 and older to apply.
Let me know what your thoughts are on this…
Brandon said:
I believe, they should either cut out the alcohol to the scholarship recipients and place an HRC official at each scholarship table…
I like that idea. I really believe there are some 18, 19 and 20 year old folks who would really deserve to go to HRC. When I went as a senior in high school it was one of the most empowering things to see. The same feeling of empowerment was felt last year at the 2006 Gala.