Silver City, NM, August 17, 2021—PFLAG Silver City is pleased to announce three recipients of the Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship at Western New Mexico University.

Brenna Meagher is originally from Connecticut, but she has traveled the West in search of bigger mountains to climb. She now lives in Silver City and is majoring in biology. Brenna states, “As a person who has worked with young people extensively, I've always sought to normalize being queer just by being myself and being open. I've found that this openness helps me feel more comfortable and has also opened the door for other LGBTQ+ folks to share their stories with me.”

Taliesin Taylor is from Tucson and currently lives in Hurley. Her major is social work. Taliesin writes of being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, “To be an ally is to: Take on the struggle as your own; stand up, even when you feel scared; transfer the benefits of your privilege to those who lack it; acknowledge that while you, too, feel pain, the conversation is not about you.”

Larry Dubois is from Albuquerque and is majoring in General Business. Larry has said, “I am an ally because I believe love is love. All people deserve to love who they wish. We are all made equal. Do what makes you happy. That is the bottom line. We are strength in numbers.”

The Nancy Kailing Memorial Scholarship is given to WNMU students who have demonstrated work toward securing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons. Nancy Kailing was the founder of PFLAG Fairbanks, Alaska and a former president of PFLAG Silver City. She was a teacher and a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ persons.

Founded in 1973 after the simple act of a mother publicly supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the nation's largest family and ally organization. For more information, call PFLAG Silver City at 575-590-8797 or go to pflagsilver.org.