Openly gay sportscaster Steve Mason is collaborating with the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association to create a new scholarship fund aimed at helping LGBTQ aspiring sportscasters pay for college.
The scholarship award for the 2018-2019 academic year will provide $2,500 in tuition funding to an LGBTQ student who plans to pursue a career in sports journalism. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is May 17. Incoming and current undergraduate and graduate students can apply for the scholarship.
“When I was growing up I didn’t know anybody who was gay who worked in sports,” Mason told Outsports. “When I came out in 2016 I decided that I was going to find a way to help other LGBTQ kids find their way into the sports broadcasting business and let them know it’s been very open and accepting to me ever since I came out.”
Mason came out as gay publicly on air in 2016. Since coming out he’s looked for opportunities to give back to the LGBTQ community. This scholarship is how he wants to do that.
Mason said he has received incredible support since coming out publicly. He said he has seen maybe two mean tweets about him being gay the entire time.
“It’s to the point where maybe two tweets in all of history, in the entire mean world of Twitter, I’ve gotten two tweets that were attacks on my sexual orientation since I came out.
“It’s been nothing but rewarding and positive.”
Mason said he will be hosting upcoming fundraisers to contribute to the scholarship fund.
If you’re LGBTQ and are studying to be a sports journalist, be sure to apply for this great new scholarship.
