Pink Banana World

Record-breaking amount of scholarships awarded by local businesses Over 400 business leaders in attendance at the GSBA Scholarship Fund Dinner demonstrated their commitment to invest in the next generation of leaders by awarding over $330,000 in scholarships to LGBTQ and allied students in Washington State. The GSBA Scholarship Fund awards educational scholarships to undergraduate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied students, who exhibit leadership potential, demonstrate strong academic abilities and are actively involved in school and community organizations. Scholars reflect a diverse group of students, from rural and urban areas, pursuing a wide range of professions and who have plans to positively impact their community. GSBA is committed to positioning today's students to become tomorrow's leaders. GSBA’s Scholarship Fund supports the community through providing financial support, role-modeling and hope to outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender

A feature length movie, currently in pre production, will be based on the premise set by the award winning viral short “Love is All You Need?’  which has sparked a global movement to end bullying, generating more than 30 million views on You Tube and Facebook in 15 different languages. Imagine a world where Gay was Straight and Straight was Gay. Challenging our current conception of the terms ‘Gay’ and ‘Straight’, this controversial short film, written and directed by K Rocco Shields of Genius Pictures, switches not only the meaning of the terms but with it the social and cultural prejudicial responses. The short film introduces us to a young teen Ashley who has a crush on a boy at school.  These feelings go against everything Ashley’s world has ever taught her.  Unfortunately, Ashley’s undeniable attraction to the opposite sex causes her to be the constant target of verbal and shocking physical abuse by the other students at her school. “I can’t stress how important it is tha

With statistics showing that LGBT Seniors are five times less likely to ask for help, according to Cathy Croghan, a geriatric consultant and public health nurse, we need to think of our LGBT seniors a little differently. As reported on Twincities.com, “The topic remains a relatively new but growing entry in discussions about aging. Affordable housing developments targeted to gay seniors recently have opened in Minneapolis, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.” New York City is also seeing LGBT welcoming centers, including AHS Caring Communities with its 2 locations in the Bronx and Queens. AHS Home Care and Adult Day Programs includes staff that is specially trained to deal with LGBT seniors. A trend that is growing quickly with the help of Training to Serve whose mission is to provide education, tools and resources to improve the quality of life of LGBT people as they age. Croghan, a board member with North St. Paul-based Training to Serve, says “They have these early life exper