Southern Equality Research Grant

Southern Equality Research Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Campaign for Southern Equality
Amount: Up to US $2,000
Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Summary

The Southern Equality Research Grant, offered by the Campaign for Southern Equality, aims to empower students and early career researchers to conduct crucial studies on LGBTQ+ issues in the South. With over a third of LGBTQ+ Americans residing in this region, there is a significant need for research to address legal protections and social inequities. This initiative seeks to elevate the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ Southerners, fostering a deeper understanding of the policies affecting their lives.

Overview

At the Campaign for Southern Equality, we’re working to build a South where LGBTQ+ people are equal in every sphere of life. More than one third of all LGBTQ+ Americans live in the South. But our community lacks basic legal protections, faces political attacks, and experiences health and income inequities. LGBTQ+ Southerners also live each day with courage and strength and are doing heroic work to promote equality in their hometowns. Southern Equality Research Grant More than thirty percent of all LGBTQ people in the United States call the American South home. Yet, less than ten percent of the social research on this population highlights the experiences of those in the region. The lack of data makes it challenging to craft rebuttals to, articulate the effects of, and secure protections against the attacks on LGBTQ people and communities in the South. The Southern Equality Research and Policy Center (SERPC) developed the Southern Equality Research Grant to support students and early career researchers conduct rigorous research investigating social problems that affect the lived experiences and life chances of LGBTQ people in the region. SERPC welcomes researchers to join us in Meeting the Moment in the LGBTQ South to assess local, state, and federal policies restricting the rights of LGBTQ people and examine the impact of these policies on LGBTQ people and their allies.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Undergraduate student enrolled in a four-year institution of higher education Graduate student enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program (MA/MS, MPH, MPP, MSW, PhD, DrPH, EdD) Early career researcher (postdocs, contingent and pre-tenure faculty, and/or researchers who earned a postgraduate degree within the past five years) Eligible Expenses Travel to professional conferences (applicant must be a presenting author) Expenditures related to research such as software, participant incentives, data analysis support, publications costs, and other research-related supplies that have not been purchased

Ineligibility

Ineligible Expenses Expenses that do not relate to the applicant’s research or scholarly workCosts associated with program requirements (e.g. internships, clinicals, certifications, background checks, membership dues)Reimbursement for travel that has already occurred or research related supplies that have already been purchased