GLAAD Media Award nominated drag queen and environmentalist Pattie Gonia has just announced an exciting opportunity for young queer people looking to explore the great outdoors!
For the 4th year in a row, Pattie Gonia has joined forces with their BIPOC and Queer partner organization Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps to launch a fully funded Queer Outdoor Expedition for six lucky scholarship recipients.
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The six selected individuals will be invited to attend a 7-day backpacking and trail crew course through the lands of the Eastern Mono/Monache and Numu (Northern Paiute) tribes which is currently called Inyo National Forest.
The Queer Outdoor Expedition application is open to Queer-identifying participants ages 18-30 and who are United States Citizens (travel expenses outside of the U.S. will not be covered). No prior outdoor experience is necessary.
The scholarships will cover the course tuition, income loss reimbursement for each participant that requests it, travel costs, and gear rental fees, essentially eliminating any financial barriers that could prevent someone for exploring the beauty of the outdoors!
Applicants who are looking to build queer community, wouldn’t otherwise have the financial means to attend, and identify with multiple marginalized identities will be prioritized.
“I believe the outdoors to be a transformative space for Queer people and that we need to collectively support the next generation of diverse outdoor leaders,” Pattie Gonia said in a video posted to social media.
“Can’t wait to see your applications come in!”
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Pattie Gonia has dedicated their career to making the outdoors a more inclusive space, and help remind people our planet is worth protecting. Pattie is a co-founder of the Outdoorist Oath– a non-profit that gets BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and femmes into the outdoors through community and education. She also recently founded the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board – a free tool queer individuals can use to get hired and therefore diversify the fields.
Learn more about the Queer Outdoor Expedition and apply for the 2024 Queer Outdoor Expedition here!