Mike Rhoades It's Okay to be Gay Scholarship

“Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” – Jason Collins

Coming out was not easy for me. I grew up in a conservative family that never considered the possibility that I could be gay. So I held my secret for 21 years.

When I finally came out in my last year of college, I finally felt at ease. I could be myself for the first time in my life. And while it’s still not always easy with my family, the acceptance and comfort I feel today is far greater than my first two decades of life.

The Mike Rhoades It’s Okay to be Gay Scholarship exists to promote more openness and acceptance of being a gay man in our world.

The scholarship is open to undergraduate students in any field of study. The only requirement is that you are a gay male who wants to promote more openness in our world.

To apply for the scholarship, you will need to write a short essay about challenges you’ve faced as a gay male.