by Elliott Kozuch •
Washington -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, announced that it will honor transgender advocate Gavin Grimm with an Upstander Award at the organization’s annual Time to THRIVE Conference on February 16-18 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek in Orlando. The conference is co-presented by the National Education Association and the American Counseling Association.
“Gavin has set a powerful example for LGBTQ advocates across the country, serving as a leader for transgender youth and taking his fight for equality all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States,” said Vincent Pompei, chair of Time to THRIVE and director of the HRC Foundation’s Youth Well-Being Project. “As we join together with hundreds of youth-serving professionals at Time to THRIVE, we are privileged to welcome and honor Gavin with our Upstander Award.”
Past recipients of the award, which recognizes those who have advocated tirelessly on behalf of LGBTQ youth, include Katie Couric, Jazz Jennings, Ruby Corado, Michael Sam, Lance Bass and John Quiñones.
Grimm made history after suing his school district over its discriminatory policy that barred him from using the boy’s restroom, alleging that the district violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. His case was scheduled to be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States, but was sent back to a lower court after the Trump-Pence administration withdrew the Obama Administration’s policy guidance clarifying schools’ obligations to transgender students. Grimm has since graduated from high school, but he continues to be an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality.
Grimm will receive Upstander Awards at HRC’s Time to THRIVE, the premier event addressing the safety, inclusion and well-being of LGBTQ and questioning youth. The event brings together a wide range of youth-serving professionals to discuss best practices for working with and caring for LGBTQ youth and their families in schools, community centers, health care settings and beyond. Toyota and BBVA Bank are presenting sponsors of the event. To register, visit www.TimeToThrive.org.
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is education arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.
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