Annina Van Riper, a 2015 graduated of Bethlehem Central High School, has been recognized for her efforts to achieve LGBTQ equality in the Capital Region.
Van Riper is one of four $2,500 scholarship winners given by the Pride Center of the Capital Region each year.
“With her work with the Pride Center and what she is intending on studying, Annina made an excellent candidate,” said Interim Director of Pride Center of the Capital Region Michael Weidrich.
The Pride Center of the Capital Region holds programs to serve the health and human service needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community in the Capital Region. They also work to educate and advocate for those needs. It is the oldest continuously operated LGBTQ community center in the country.
At a speech she gave at the Wednesday, July 22, Pride Center Scholarship award ceremony, Van Riper spoke on her involvement with the Pride Center, the many people who have faced discrimination and persecution for expressing their sexual and gender identities and how she herself came to terms with her sexuality.
“I didn’t always like using the term gay or lesbian. But over the years I’ve learned that there is power with label,” she said.
Van Riper has been involved with the center’s Youth Action Team for the past three years. Members of the team hold after-school trainings for school teachers and administrators that instruct on ways in which schools can support LGBTQ youth and help them feel accepted by their communities.
Sixteen high schoolers from around the Capital District were part of the team this year, two of which came from BCHS: Van Riper as well as incoming senior Raina Briggs.
“Our work there is so rewarding. Even just to talk to the kids and see their issues,” said Van Riper.
The group also speaks with members of gay-straight alliance clubs at the 11 districts to speak about their experiences and offer themselves as resources. The schools could be as close as Albany High or as far as Schuylerville.
“It’s one of our gem programs,” said Weidrich. “It’s a fantastic celebration of work that we do.”
Van Riper said she absolutely plans on working with LGBTQ advocacy groups in the future. She will attend Smith College in Northampton, Mass. in the fall. She plans on pursuing pre-medical studies, with a possible double major in either English or film studies.
Once at Smith, Van Riper plans on joining the campus’s gender and sexuality club. “Smith College is a little gay-hub. I’m excited to sort-of immerse myself in that culture,” she said.
Van Riper said that she also is excited to meet people from different areas of the country who may not have been as accepted for their sex and gender identities as she has been.
“Growing up in Delmar I felt incredibly humbled and welcomed in the community,” she said. “Not everyone has had that experience.”
Van Riper was one of about 30 candidates to apply for the Pride Center of Albany’s four scholarships. Winners were chosen by center’s vice president, board of directors and two community members.
Remaining scholarship winners were Sonya Rio-Glick of Albany Academy for Girls, Saffron Livaccari of Columbia High School and Patricia Van Valkenburgh of Hudson High School.
“It’s nice to appreciate youth and where they’re going,” said Weidrich. “They truly are the leaders of tomorrow.”
Students interested in being a part of the Pride Center of the Capital Region should submit an application by Monday, Sept. 15. The application is available on its website at capitalpridecenter.org.
