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Calling all young LGBTQ leaders

SHER Vancouver is now accepting applications for the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award
January Marie Lapuz
January Marie Lapuz was a New West resident. Applications are now open for a youth award given out in her honour.

Do you know a young person who has shown leadership in the LGBTQ community?

Applications are now being accepted for the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award.

The award, sponsored by DiverseCity Community Resources Society, is presented annually by SHER Vancouver, a non-profit society for LGBTQ South Asians and their friends, families and allies. It’s named in honour of January Lapuz, a New Westminster woman who was killed in her home in 2012. She was SHER’s social coordinator, the first transgender person to hold an executive position with the group.

“January had many challenges and struggles as an immigrant, as a person of colour, and as a transgender woman living in poverty,” says a write-up on the SHER Vancouver website. “Nonetheless, she was a bright light and shining star in Sher Vancouver.”

Applicants for the award must be 16 to 30 years of age. Applications from groups that service that age group are also welcome.

Applicants need to submit a point-form personal statement (no longer than one page) demonstrating their involvement, commitment and leadership in the LGBTQ community – locally, nationally and/or internationally. Applicants who have experienced social adversity in their life also have the option of submitting an additional page, in point form, explaining their circumstances.

People of any gender or sexual identity are welcome to submit applications, and applicants can come from any race, culture or background.

The award comes with cash prizes of $1,000, $600, $400 and $200. The deadline to apply is Dec. 31, and winners will be announced in January 2020.

For more information and the full details of how to apply, see www.shervancouver.com/youth-award.html.