What is the history of the Barney Frank Equality Scholarship?
The need for the scholarship became apparent when students reported to university faculty and staff a loss of parental financial support for college because of their gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender identity. The scholarship, one of the first of its kind, was publicized in The Advocate magazine and generated a great deal of support via financial donations from its readership across the country. BSU employees and alumni also made donations, leading the scholarship to receive endowment status within two years of its initiation. The scholarship was named after Massachusetts representative Barney Frank in honor of his advocacy for GLBT individuals. As an openly gay member in the House of Representatives, he is not only a strong role model to our students, but also should be commended for his tireless efforts to bring equality to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
