Mary Rasura, editor of OutFAU, will be the first recipient of the Norm Kent LGBTQ Newsmaker Fund. The $750 scholarship also includes an internship with OutSFL.
Rasura was the founding editor of OutFAU when it launched in January. OutFAU is OutSFL’s supplemental publication for the queer community on the campus of Florida Atlantic University.
“I am very honored to receive this scholarship,” Rasura said. “Starting OutFAU this year has been challenging and exciting. I’m thankful for the support to consider pursuing my education.”
The monthly newspaper is currently, as far as we can tell, one of its kind in the country on a university campus. The publication will go on hiatus after its May issue, resuming once the Fall semester starts. OutFAU recently won third place in the Apple awards at the College Media Association’s annual awards.
The Norm Kent LGBTQ Newsmaker Fund is administered by the Our Fund Foundation and was launched in memory of Kent, who died in April 2023.
“Norm Kent’s voice and journalistic activism are especially missed in our current fight with anti-LGBTQ forces,” said David Jobin, CEO of Our Fund. “To have a fund that helps find and elevate future generations of LGBTQ journalists is a fitting legacy to Norm for all that he fought for on our behalf.”
Kent was the co-founder and publisher of South Florida Gay News and before that he had founded Express Gay News. Kent was also a noted criminal defense attorney. He dedicated his life to standing up for the LGBTQ community, the First Amendment, and marijuana legalization. The fund is currently accepting donations to make sure the scholarship can continue for years to come.
“Launching a newspaper is no easy feat in this day and age, so Mary deserves lots of kudos. Being in charge of a publication comes with great responsibility, and Mary has faced both praise and criticism for her work. She’s taken it all in stride and has grown from it. I know it’s been quite a learning experience for her,” said OutSFL Publisher Jason Parsley. “Meanwhile, OutFAU has given our readers a little insight into campus life under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ oppressive administration. We hope to keep it going for as long as possible.”
You can donate to the fund here.