LezRideSA is accepting applications from local LGBT youth organizations for two $500 Fun Activity Grants it will award this summer.
The grants will be used by the youth organizations to promote or sponsor healthy activities like dance, sports, hiking, cycling and team building events. Underwriting for the grants is being provided by several organizations including the Bexar County Health Collaborative, La Botanica Vegan Restaurant & Bar, Texas Prosthetic Center and SA2020.
LezRideSA was founded in 2014. It provides free outdoor wellness activities to the LGBT community. According to their website, the group “uses cycling and exercise to promote, inspire and support LGBT inclusion, diversity, wellness and community building through healthy adventures.” LezRideSA organizes bike rides on first and third Thursdays and on second and fourth Saturdays.
In their announcement about the grants, LezRideSA organizers say, “Physical activity is a critical determinant of long-term health and wellbeing. While little is known about sexual orientation differences in physical activity and the root causes for these differences, we do know that LGBT youth tend to get less exercise compared to their heterosexual and gender normative counterparts.”
The announcement goes to describe the importance of physical activity for LGBT young people:
In a 2014 study examining adolescent and young adult hours per week of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and team sports participation by sexual orientation, behavioral health scientists investigated contributions of gender nonconformity and low athletic self-esteem to possible sexual orientation differences in exercise. They found that LGBT youth are getting 1.21-2.62 hours per week less MVPA and are 46%-76% less likely to participate in team sports than same-gender heterosexuals. Gender nonconformity and athletic self-esteem accounted for well over half of this difference.
To qualify for a grant groups must meet certain criteria:
– Directly serve LGBT youth between the ages of 12-22 years old
– Serve youth in an economically disadvantaged area
– Be located in San Antonio, Texas
– Use LezRideSA Fun Fund to support outdoor sports, outdoor play, outdoor active team activities for large groups of LGBT youth.
– Additionally, LezRideSA is not able to donate to individual athletes.
All approved organizations will be notified on or before July 1, 2015. Applications should be submitted via email to lezridesa@gmail.com, or sent directly to: Bexar County Community Health, 1002 N Flores Street, San Antonio, Texas 78212.
