Out gay broadcaster Steve Mason has created a scholarship fund with the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association to help support LGBTQ college students aiming to enter the world of sports broadcasting.
The scholarship is designed to help LGBTQ people pay for college for an industry that has long been assumed to be homophobic. It has already raised more than $2,000.
“When I was growing up, knowing I was gay, I could never have imagined that a career in sports broadcasting was possible,” Mason told Outsports. “This scholarship is all about helping open the door for LGBTQ kids to build a career in sports media. Sports is one of the most powerful ways to affect social change and you can’t underestimate the importance of more gay and lesbian journalists becoming part of the business.”
Mason came out publicly on his ESPN radio show in Los Angeles about two years ago. Since then he has been the same-old Mase, while also not shying away from sharing his experiences as a gay man in sports media.
You can help Mason raise money for the scholarship fund, and win a big-screen TV, by going to Crowd Rise. The funds go to support LGBTQ people looking to get an education in sports media and journalism.
If you’re an LGBTQ college student studying to become a sports journalist, you can apply for the scholarship here.
Mason will be part of a panel about sports media at the NLGJA convention.
You can follow Steve Mason on Twitter @VeniceMase.
You can folllow NLGJA on Twitter @NLGJA.
