Vaid Fellows

To support and recognize the leadership of people of color and other emerging leaders in social science, public policy and legal research

What is the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force?

Now in its 12th year, the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force conducts research, policy analysis and strategic action to advance equality and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. At the Policy Institute we are expanding the knowledge base that our movement needs to conduct informed public education and advocacy campaigns to ensure that policy frameworks treat our community and our relationships fairly-including those frameworks not usually thought of as "gay" issues, like anti-poverty policy. We then translate this into tools that grassroots activists can use to conduct public education and public engagement campaigns.

The Policy Institute focuses on racial and economic justice broadly defined, and in particular on issues of concern to LGBT people of color and low-income people of all races. In addition, family policy issues, aging and youth policy issues, voting behavior and political representation issues, public opinion, workplace benefit and discrimination issues, the impact of anti-LGBT ballot initiatives and the anti-LGBT movement, and documenting basic demographics of the LGBT community are critical component of our work.

The Policy Institute is a 501(c)(3) founded in 1995 and is located in New York City and Washington DC. It is a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

What is the Vaid Fellowship?

The Vaid Fellowship was created through generous grants from the Billie Jean King Foundation and the Anita May Rosenstein Foundation in honor of the Policy Institute's former director, longtime activist Urvashi Vaid. Vaid Fellowships support and recognize the leadership of people of color and other emerging leaders in the progressive movement for LGBT equality.

Fellows are given a great deal of responsibility. The fellows selected each session will focus on legal and policy research and writing, and will be directly supervised by a staff of nationally recognized LGBT policy experts from social science and legal research fields.

Stipend and duration of fellowship

Fellows are paid a stipend of $10 per hour. Summer fellows work 40 hours per week and spring/fall fellows work 20 hours per week. Fellows work in the New York City or Wasington DC offices and are responsible for their own housing and living expenses. Fellows are responsible for paying any and all taxes on income earned at the Task Force.

Qualifications

We are particularly looking for applicants with experience and a serious interest in working on issues affecting the transgender community, as well as strong statistical analysis skills.

Applicants must be:

• Enrolled in a degree program at least half time as a law, graduate or undergraduate student, or have successfully completed a law, graduate or undergraduate degree within the 12 months preceding the application deadline. Statistical analysis skills are particularly needed.

Applicants should have:

• Demonstrated leadership in progressive and/or LGBT communities.
• Knowledge of and commitment to LGBT issues.
• Desire to work in a multi-cultural environment where commitment to diversity based on race, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation and physical ability is an important institutional value.
• Extensive skills in research, writing and critical thinking.
• Computer proficiency in word processing, database work, e-mail and Internet research.

Applications must include:

1. Cover letter outlining the applicant's interest and background, if any, in public policy affecting LGBT people
2. Resume
3. Contact information for three references
4. A brief writing sample (maximum 5 pages and ideally on an LGBT-related topic) that demonstrates your research skills and your ability to use existing literature appropriately to support your argument.

Please e-mail application materials (as MS Word attachments) to:

Somjen Frazer, sfrazer@theTaskForce.org

No telephone calls please. The Vaid Fellowship is highly competitive. We will contact you if we desire an interview; all applicants will eventually be contacted.