Geneva

Geneva Nemzek and her mother Sandi Paulson

The 2013 Manahan-Bohan PFund Scholarship was awarded to Geneva Nemzek, co-president of the Straight and Gay Alliance at Moorhead State University. SAGA had been featured on Minnesota Public Radio in 2012 when their "Love is Love" campaign opposing the proposed anti-gay marriage state constitutional amendment prompted the appearance of "Sin is Sin" T-shirts on campus.

Geneva and a few of her family in SAGA Love is Love T-shirts

I met Geneva and her mother Sandi Paulson at the PFund Scholarship Awards brunch in June. They had driven several hours to attend. BTW, for the best roasted chicken recipe, check out Sandi's delightful blog.

A month later, Becky and I visited them at their northern Minnesota cabin. A dozen family members, including Geneva's mom and step-dad, were wearing "Love is Love" T-shirts.

Having strong family support is one reason we think this young activist will continue her work for LGBT social justice after she graduates. Demonstrated leadership is one of the criteria PFund uses when evaluating the many applications for the only 20 or so scholarships offered each year to LGBT students.

Becky and I feel privileged to be able to support Geneva and the other recipients of our annual scholarship over the past 20 years.  We love the joie de vivre many of them bring to the movement, expressing playful, flexible approaches we serious lesbian feminists couldn't have imagined at that age. May they carry it forward.

Nancy

Becky Bohan, Geneva Nemzek, and Nancy Manahan, July 2013