The Liberty Hill Foundation has awarded $250,000 to 11 organizations working on issues faced by local lesbian, gay, and transgender communities. Liberty Hill is the only public foundation in L.A. County with a fund dedicated to LGBT projects. "Talk about pride!," said Liberty Hill Foundation Executive Director Torie Osborn. "This year, we gave away more money than ever to amazing L.A. LGBT groups."

The Cornerstone Theatre, a multi-ethnic, ensemble-based company that uses theater to build bridges within diverse communities in Los Angeles and nationwide, received $24,000 to support its 2005 Faith-Based Bridge Project.

Correct HELP (Corrections HIV Education and Law Project) advocates for social change in the criminal justice system by advocating for HIV-positive inmates and empowering inmates to demand adequate medical care and challenge unfair treatment. The orgranization received $24,000 to support its RARE Post-Incarcerated LGBT Peer Mentoring Program.

Equality California Institute promotes the safety and equality of LGBT Californians through a combination of public education, grassroots mobilization, and collaboration with other social justice organizations and received $25,000 to support its Family Media and Community Organizing for Marriage Equality projects.

Fringe Benefits Alliance, a Los Angeles-based coalition of theater activists, educators, parents, and youth, dedicated to building bridges between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth and their straight peers, teachers, and families, received $24,000 to support their programs.

The Gay-Straight Alliance Network (GSA Network) organizes youth to fight homophobia in California schools, and received $25,000 to support its Make It Real project. The project will empower LGBTQ youth to engage in school-based organizing, education, and advocacy.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund is the oldest and largest legal organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of LGBT people and people living with HIV. Lambda received $20,000 to support its Proyecto Igualdad project, which addresses the lack of information on LGBT and HIV-positive rights available to LGBT Latinos due to language, cultural, and economic barriers.

Outfest seeks to build bridges between audiences, filmmakers, and the entertainment industry through the exhibition of LGBT themed films and videos. Outfest received $20,000 to support FUSION: The Los Angeles LBGT People of Color Film Festival, which partners with community organizations to produce the largest film festival in the country celebrating the work of LGBT people of color.

The South Asian Network is dedicated to the heath and empowerment of the South Asian community in Los Angeles. They received $24,000 to support the LGBTIQ Initiative, which promotes the health and wellness of LGBTIQ South Asians, an isolated and underserved community.

Stop Prisoner Rape seeks to end sexual violence in detention through a blend of organizing, advocacy, services, and media outreach. They received $25,000 to support their Los Angeles LGBT Safety in Detention project that seeks to improve the safety of LGBT inmates in Los Angeles County.

The Transgender Law Center is a civil rights organization advocating for transgender communities. They received $15,000 to support their Transgender Health Care Access Campaign. The campaign addresses the barriers that transgender people face in trying to access health care.

United Lesbians of African Heritage (ULOAH) is the only organization of its kind in South California. ULOAH provides education and support to build self-esteem, challenge homophobia, and increase activism. They received $24,000 to support the salaries of the executive director and to hire a program assistant.

For more information about the Liberty Hill Foundation, go to www.libertyhill.org.