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Do you like to travel? Do you like writing about travel? Are you a person who belongs to a minority who feels that not only does the travel industry not speak to you, but travel media and publishing do not represent your voice or your identity?
And, are you short on the cash that would help you to develop your own writing voice and bust through to make a difference?
Well, now is your chance to sharpen your pencil, fire up your laptop and apply to Write Like a Honey Badger's LGBTQIA travel Writing Scholarship!
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
Write Like A Honey Badger is thrilled to announce the Amy Brecount White Scholarship for Travel Writing I is available for the spring 2022 term, beginning February 8th. It is open to all LGBTQIA+ applicants who couldn’t otherwise afford this six-week online course.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 2.
Photo by Ibrahim Rifath on Unsplash
“We’re delighted that Amy Brecount White is funding a space for an LGBTQIA+ writer, in addition to our school’s usual scholarship (open to all authors from under-represented backgrounds)," instructor and founder Amanda Castleman told OUTvoices.
"Alumni from our program have been flourishing, covering topics from the 'queer mullet’ to the trans community in Latin America. And they’ve regularly been landing stories in big outlets, including BBC Travel, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The New York Times, Smithsonian and Travel + Leisure. My co-teacher Jessica Poitevien and I can’t wait to see the heights the winner of this scholarship will reach!”
USEFUL LINKS
Details of the scholarship: https://www.writelikeahoneybadger.com/lgbtia-travel-writing-scholarship
The class and what it offers: https://www.writelikeahoneybadger.com/classes/travel-writing-i
Application link: https://www.writelikeahoneybadger.com/scholarships
LeAnn Rimes ~ Throw My Arms Around The World (Acoustic) youtu.be
Rimes’ general charitable work is extensive, but in relation to the LGBT community, she has supported the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), The Trevor Project, No H8, GLADD, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and the Los Angeles Gay Men’s Choir.
Rimes’ long relationship with her LGBT fans and her support for their community came to fruition when she was honored with an Ally for Equality Award at the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner on Saturday, March 25, 2017 for her advocacy for and outreach to the LGBT community.
“LeAnn Rimes is boldly using her influence in the music world to empower people to accept and be their true selves,” said Blake Brockway, co-chair of the HRC Nashville Equality Dinner, when the award was announced. “An outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality, she is also making a difference in the lives of countless young people across the country by standing up for LGBTQ youth and speaking out against bullying.”
Rimes shared some insights into her history with the LGBT community, why she feels so strongly about her obligation to be an active ally, and what the future holds for her.
Where is your commitment to the LGBT community rooted?
Rimes: Well I mean my love and appreciation and support of the LGBT community has always been there, ever since I was very young. My uncle passed away from AIDS when I was 11, and, being from the south, me and my dad were the only ones who showed up at his funeral.
So I kind of saw this major discrimination and just … pain throughout the family, throughout the south in generally. Just like really, it's dehumanizing in a way. And it feels like it's a disease or something. I remember that's kind of how I felt when I was 11. He had this disease. He was gay.
It stuck with me very deeply, and I've always, I just have in my heart, I've always been a huge supporter of equality across the board. And I've had tons of LGBTQ fans ever since I was young. I have so many guys that were like, "We were obsessed with you. And our moms thought, 'Oh, we want you to be our girlfriend.'" They were like, "No, we just wanted to wear your shoes and go in your closet." I'm like, "Perfect!"
So these kids came out, used me and my music to come out, to tell their parents. I mean there's so many stories that I've heard, and it's just always been a part of my heart. And especially starting out as a country artist, that was one thing that I never shied away from—showing my support of the LGBTQ community.
What kind of stories have fans told you?
Rimes: I've had some funny ones like I said where the kids were like, "Oh, yeah, my mom thought we were totally obsessed with you, but obviously in a completely different way."
And then I've had kids who said just the connecting through my music has helped them be able to express themselves. Some of the messages in my music have given them hope when they didn't have it.
Me just even speaking out about it and being a support system has helped them realize that they aren't alone. I mean there's so much that has been told to me—like the ones where kids were really thinking of not being here anymore. And somehow, they heard one of my songs and it gave them this boost to go, "Okay, I can do this. I can be me. And I can make it through."
Those are the hardest ones for me, and the most amazing ones, too, because you don't realize, every day, how much music, your music, can be touching somebody and helping them in their life. Those are the beautiful stories for sure.
LeAnn Rimes Greatest Hits (Full album) - Best of LeAnn Rimes Songs Playlist - Country Female Singers youtu.be
You grew up in the Nashville music scene: how have you seen the Nashville music scene changing as far as its acceptance of LGBT people?
Rimes: I think it's been a slow process, obviously. I knew my friends Ty Herndon, Billy Gilman, Chely Wright… I mean I've known Ty since I was eight, and we all knew. It just, it wasn't ever talked about, even between us, because it was just, it was something that always had to be hidden. And I know from being around them and discussing it with them later on in life how painful that was. I can only imagine.
I mean we all hide ourselves in a way, parts of ourselves. But when it comes to something that is such a core part of who you are—you don't go around choosing these things, it's who you are… And not being accepted for that, I mean that comes with its own set of issues and it rips your soul out.
So to be around that and to witness it is very hard for me. And every time one of them has come out, I've been so excited. When I saw Billy came out, I was in a McDonald's. I was texting him from the bathroom because I had just seen it on my phone and I was crying, and I'm like, "People are gonna think I'm crazy!" But it makes me so happy when people can be themselves and be free.
I think that the country community is slowly but surely really, really accepting it. I don't think they can get away from it anymore. But the true acceptance of it? Hopefully this won't even be a conversation we're having several years from now. Sooner rather than later, hopefully.
How did you feel when HRC Nashville presented you with their Ally for Equality Award?
Rimes: Honestly it's probably one of my favorite things I've ever received, just because it's not about music, it's about the human and it's about a connection and being an ally for each other. As much as I've supported [the LGBT community], they have done the same for me for many, many years now and continue to.
LeAnn Rimes' new song "Throw My Arms Around the World" is out now. For more including upcoming gigs, go here.
Trixie Mattel, Todrick Hall and Greyson Chance were among the headliners performing this year, however I was most excited about seeing Lisa Lisa, Jody Watley and Ty Herndon.
Tyler and I arrived on the first day of the festival and it appeared to be similar to a pride event. Vendors lined the street selling everything from artwork to sunglasses as well as some other more risqué items. It didn’t take long for us to run into a few friends, some of which I hadn’t seen in many years. Market Days is what you make it. You can spend the afternoon strolling Halsted Street or you can skip the street fair and head straight to the bars, clubs, and circuit events in the evening.
Take some time the next morning to check out the hotel’s 2-story art gallery space or maybe find time for a quick workout in their fitness center before heading to Hutch American Bistro for brunch.
Hutch is located off the same red line stop as Boystown so it’s quite convenient. I ordered the smoked salmon avocado toast which came with fruit salad. It was light yet filling and the perfect way to begin the day. We went back to Hutch for happy hour of a different day and sampled a few additional items including the guacamole and queso and Chicago meatballs. The restaurant offers a daily happy hour menu consisting of half-off select appetizers as well as $3 champagne. Yes, please!
When in Chicago, you would be remiss if you didn’t visit one of the city’s numerous cultural institutions. Since the Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium are in the same complex, we decided to visit both in the same morning.
Tyler and I are both huge animal lovers, so we headed straight to the beluga whale and penguin habitats. Beluga whales are one of my favorite mammals, so it was wonderful to see them up close.
The Field Museum is home to one of the largest (and best in my opinion) dinosaur exhibitions in the country. The chronological display brings guests through history and mass extinctions leading up to the birth of dinosaurs. The Field Museum is also home to Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered. This is a must-see for any dinosaur lover.
After a fun filled day of partying, head back to the 21c Museum Hotel located in the River North neighborhood, about a 25-minute red-line commute from Boystown. The boutique property is one of the newer hotels in the 21c family. I’ve stayed at their properties in Oklahoma City, Nashville and Kansas City and they never disappoint. The 21c Chicago was kind enough to provide me with a wonderful corner suite as well as their Love is Love package, which included a pride tank top, perfect to wear during the festivities.
We decided to walk back to our hotel after visiting the museum as the weather was perfect for a leisurely stroll along the lake – until it started raining. With nowhere to take cover, we just admired the beauty of Chicago’s architectural wonders as well as the sculptures in Millennium Park including the world-famous Bean.
Speaking of walking, the city offers free walking tours through Chicago Greeter. Local guides volunteer their time to take guests on customized walking tours of the city. We decided to focus our tour on architecture and landmarks. Our knowledgeable guide took us to some places we would have never known about if we had set out on our own. While we took a journey through the North Loop, the Greeter Tour service can take visitors through many of the 77 neighborhoods in the Chicago area.
Before heading back to Boystown, grab a quick bite at Tied House. I was thoroughly impressed by both the food and service of this establishment. Tyler and I shared a few items including the Black Bean Hummus prepared with salsa roja and lime crema as well as the Watermelon & Bigeye Tuna which came with pickled ginger and a koji vinaigrette. The Short Rib Risotto was served with roasted sweet corn Risotto, cherry tomato, summer squash. While the short rib portion was a bit fatty for my liking, I found the risotto part to be incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. I would order the risotto by itself next time…it was so good!
Boystown of course is the heart of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. There are dozens of shops, restaurants, businesses, and nightlife venues catering to every gay under the sun. Some of my favorites include Sidetrack, Hydrate Nightclub, Splash and Progress Bar.
What many tourists don’t know is that Chicago has a gay beach. While it may not have the waves of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood Beach attracts some of the most beautiful people in the Midwest and is only about a 10-minute Uber ride from Boystown. With only a few months of beach weather per year, locals flock to Hollywood Beach every opportunity possible to soak up the sun.
There is way too much to see in Chicago to fit everything into a weekend. Especially when you include a festival as well. I am going to make an effort to visit more frequently, especially since it’s so close to my home in Indianapolis.