Shoppers and neighbours are pitching in , Marin’s volunteer-run LGBTQ+ Centre is calling for nominations for its second annual Courage Awards, celebrating transgender leaders, brave youth and community partners who uplift queer people across the county. Here’s what to know, and how to get involved.

Essential takeaways

  • Who can be nominated: Transgender, nonbinary or gender-diverse individuals, LGBTQ+ youth, and organisations or people who’ve shown exceptional support.
  • Three awards: Transgender Courage Award, Youth Courage Award, and Community Partner Courage Award.
  • Deadline: Nominations close Monday 10 August; winners revealed at a luncheon on Saturday 24 October.
  • Local hub: The Marin LGBTQ Center is volunteer-run and runs QNest arts and skill-building sessions for 13–25 year‑olds twice monthly.
  • How to nominate: Visit the Marin LGBTQ Center website to submit , it’s a simple community-led process.

Why these awards matter now

There’s a quietly powerful feeling when a community names its heroes, and Marin’s Courage Awards do just that. The ceremony spotlights people and groups who’ve risked reputation or comfort to make life safer and kinder for LGBTQ+ residents, especially at a time when support networks matter more than ever. According to the centre’s flyer, nominees are celebrated for leadership, resilience and compassion , not trophies, but testimony.

The awards grew from the closure of the former Spahr Center and the community’s push to keep a local LGBTQ+ resource alive. So these are grassroots honours, shaped by neighbours and volunteers rather than a large institution, and that gives them a particular warmth and immediacy.

Who fits each category , and how to choose

Think of the Transgender Courage Award for someone living authentically and advocating visibly; the Youth Courage Award for a young person standing up for themselves or peers; and the Community Partner Courage Award for a business, organisation, or ally who’s consistently supported queer Marinites. The centre asks nominators to point to concrete acts , campaigns, mentorship, policy changes, or everyday kindness that made a difference.

When nominating, keep it tangible: list actions, timeframe and impact. If you’re unsure which category fits, the centre can advise , nominations are about telling a story, not perfect paperwork.

How to nominate and practical details

Nominations are open until Monday 10 August. The centre’s website hosts the form and the process is intentionally straightforward to encourage broad community participation. Winners will be celebrated at the awards luncheon on Saturday 24 October, a chance for friends, family and allies to gather publicly in appreciation.

If you’re nominating a young person, ask a guardian or mentor for permission where appropriate. For organisations, include contacts who can confirm projects or support. These little details help the selection committee quickly understand the nominee’s impact.

What the Marin LGBTQ Center does beyond awards

The centre remains volunteer-run and keeps programming tight and local. One continuing offering is QNest, a twice-monthly arts and skill-building programme for LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13–25; sessions split into 13–17 and 18–25 time slots, rotating between San Rafael and Larkspur. It’s low-key, creative and aimed at building peer support and practical skills , exactly the sort of groundwork that nurtures future Courage Award nominees.

Community-led groups like this tend to operate lean and responsive, so your nomination is also a small way to sustain the centre’s public profile and fundraising efforts.

A wider community rhythm , garage sales and neighbourhood life

Marin’s civic spirit overlaps with nearby community events, such as Bernal Heights’ Hillwide Garage Sale in San Francisco on 8 August, which shows how neighbourhood traditions glue people together. Events like Hillwide are reminders that local life , from charity lunches to street-side treks for vintage finds , keeps social ties alive and creates the networks that support volunteer centres.

Registering a sale or attending these local gatherings helps widen the circle of people who might one day nominate or be nominated. It’s neighbourly, accidental outreach.

It's a small change that can make every nomination count.

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