Join us this Sunday night as we profile Michael Huerta, an amazing young man who produced a video in celebration of his 24th birthday. Yes, 24. His message is important and truly in the spirit of Pride Month. We'll have Michael's full interview and video posted in our Show Notes at www.outbeatyouth.com

We will also be talking with Lee Wind who created the website, "I'm Here, I'm Queer. What The Hell Do I Read?" This is a one-of-a-kind resource for LGBT youth. Lee has a passion for writing and reading. He created this website specifically for LGBT youth, not so much to recommend what to read, but more to provide a central place to look for fiction and non-fiction books with an LGBT theme.

This show will be a special one as it airs the evening of the 40th Gay Pride Parade in San Francisco. We'll be there all day talking to people about why they have pride this year. It's so easy to forget during all of the celebration why we can enjoy a parade today. It's because of the sacrifices and struggles those who came before us endured. As think about why you have pride this year, take a look at some of the images in this video and think about how far we have come as a community.

Today, another hate crime was reported on a University of California campus. Several swastikas were discovered on the walls of a student housing building on the campus of UC Berkeley. This is the third time an incident of this type has been reported on this campus since last October.

Last last week, a transgender male student was found stabbed in a restroom on the campus of the California State University at Long Beach. While police are still investigating this incident to determine if it was in fact a hate crime, students on the campus and members of the transgender community are understandably scared.

What is most disturbing is that these recent events follow a series of hate crimes reported on campuses throughout the state. During Black History Month, a noose was found hanging in the library at UC San Diego. Swastikas were scratched into the walls in a student housing facility at UC Davis.

According to the 2008 FBI Hate Crime Report, educational institutions continue to be the third most common location where hate crimes are reported. Of all the places in our "land of the free and equal" where the free exchange of ideas and identities should occur safely, it should be our school campuses. It's tragic to think, that the place where young people should feel the most safe, that hate continues to strike fear those who are different.

For Immediate Release

The Out To Protect Scholarship Program is now accepting applications for a $500 scholarship to be awarded in June 2010. Qualified applicants can submit an application online on the Out to Protect website at www.outtoprotect.org. To qualify for one of our scholarships, you must be attending a basic law enforcement academy within the United States and demonstrate being able to meet the following criteria:

• Identify as gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, or a straight ally and be "out" to your family, friends, and peers at the academy or law enforcement agency.
• Be a recognized role model by your peers and supervisors.
• Demonstrate use of the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics as a guide for decision making.
• Demonstrate being able to graduate from your law enforcement training program.
• A basic law enforcement academy includes training programs for local, state, or federal law enforcement provided by a law enforcement agency, college, or university. The deadline to submit an application for this scholarship is midnight on May 31, 2010.

The Out To Protect Scholarship Program was created in March 2009 to create a greater awareness of the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender professionals working in law enforcement and to support those pursuing a law enforcement career.This scholarship is being funded entirely by private donations from law enforcement officers and private citizens who believe in supporting the future of law enforcement.

Please forward this information to anyone you know who might be qualified to receive a scholarship. If you are affiliated with a law enforcement agency, please forward this message to your local training academy.