Welcoming Schools Ambassador Program
Advocate for LGBTQ+ Students. Lead Locally. Act Together.
Across the country, schools are a central front in the fight for LGBTQ+ dignity, safety, and belonging. Educators, families, and community members are being asked to decide whether schools will be guided by care and honesty, or by fear and exclusion.
The Welcoming Schools Ambassador Program brings together people who choose to act.
Ambassadors are local advocates connected to a national movement led by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Through Welcoming Schools, they work to strengthen school climates, protect LGBTQ+ students, and help ensure public education remains a place where young people can live and learn openly. This work is part of HRC’s broader mission to make it easier for LGBTQ+ people to live boldly and be visible in schools, in community, at work, and in every corner of public life.
What Guides This Work
Our School Advocacy work is rooted in shared values that shape how ambassadors lead, organize, and show up for students and educators.
Ambassadors believe in:
- LGBTQ+ students’ right to dignity, safety, and belonging in school
- Full affirmation and inclusion of transgender and nonbinary students, including respect for names, pronouns, identities, and participation in all aspects of school life
- Public schools that reflect the real lives of students and families through honest, inclusive teaching and learning materials
- Opposition to censorship, book bans, and efforts to silence educators or erase LGBTQ+ people from the curriculum
- School environments that prioritize student well‑being, including emotional safety, mental health support, and suicide prevention
- Taking clear, values‑based stands when misinformation or coordinated efforts threaten LGBTQ+ students’ safety and civil rights
These values shape everyday decisions and long‑term advocacy in schools across the country.
Program Overview
The Welcoming Schools Ambassador Program supports educators, parents and caregivers, and community members who are connected to K–12 schools and ready to advocate for LGBTQ+ students.
Ambassadors work with school staff and leaders to strengthen inclusive practices, respond to harm, and push back against efforts that target or erase LGBTQ+ students. Participants use Welcoming Schools lessons, booklists, and tools to support meaningful conversations and real change in school communities.
Key benefits include:
Practical tools that work in schools: Access Welcoming Schools lesson plans, booklists, and educator resources designed to support inclusive classrooms, school culture, and everyday advocacy.
Training and guidance for confident advocacy: Receive virtual training, coaching, and ongoing support from Welcoming Schools staff to help you lead conversations, respond to pushback, and navigate complex school environments.
Opportunities to lead locally and connect nationally: Lead school advocacy and action locally in your region to increase visibility, including the National Day of Reading: A Celebration of LGBTQ+ Stories. Join a network of educators, families, and community advocates across the country who are organizing for LGBTQ+ student safety and belonging.
Eligibility and Participation
To participate, ambassadors must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a direct connection to local schools or school communities
- Be able to engage and organize locally
- Complete an asynchronous virtual ambassador training
- Participate in quarterly cohort calls
- Maintain ongoing communication with Welcoming Schools staff
Apply Now
Submitting an Ambassador Application places you on the Welcoming Schools interest list. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis as training dates are announced. This program is FREE to participate in!
The application helps us learn more about you, your community, and your interest in school advocacy. Please share what you are comfortable sharing.
If you are ready to stand with LGBTQ+ students and help shape the future of public education, we invite you to apply.