Vancouver-based LOUD scholarship awards gala to honour Canada's LGBT youth leaders

As we've seen in numerous examples from around the world, LGBT rights can be eroded or governments can move in oppositional stances to social progress and equality.

One way to ensure that doesn't happen here is to support and help strengthen younger generations who can lead the charge in the future to protect queer individuals and communities by raising awareness and education to counter misinformation, misunderstanding, and unfounded fears.

The eighth annual LOUD Scholarship Awards Gala will celebrate youth devoted to volunteer work and community activism.

It'll be held in a salon at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton Street) from 7 to 11 p.m. this Thursday (June 8).

This year, applications increased by four times the previous amount and a record 13 scholarships (most around $2,000 each) will be handed out at the event, including a Little Sister's Bookstore scholarship, three Deva (named after Little Sister's founder Jim Deva) scholarships, three Vancouver Pride Society scholarships, and a West End Softball Association scholarship.

The evening will include drink and food from the Lazy Gourmet.

Tickets are $70 and donations are welcome (100 percent of donations go towards scholarships while the costs of the scholarships are borne by the LOUD Business Association). For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit this event webpage.

The Gay Lesbian Business Association of B.C. (now known as the LOUD Business Association) launched the LOUD Foundation as a philanthropic branch of the organization to offer financial assistance through scholarships.