Internships
We’re looking for interns who care deeply about LGBTQ+ justice and want to be part of something meaningful. As an intern with us, you’ll get to work alongside our team on real projects that support queer and trans communities—especially Black, Indigenous, and people of color. You don’t need to have nonprofit experience—just a willingness to learn, show up, and grow. Whether you’re into organizing, social media, creative work, admin, or just figuring out what you love, there’s room for you here. This is a great opportunity to build skills, make connections, and be part of a community rooted in care, equity, and liberation.
- Open to students and non-students
- Stipend or school credit may be available
- LGBTQ+ folks strongly encouraged to apply
Venus Pellagatti Xtravaganza Legacy Fellowship
This fellowship is rooted in honoring the unforgettable legacy of Venus Pellagatti Xtravaganza—a trailblazing trans woman and ballroom icon whose life and voice continue to shape the heart of queer liberation and self-expression. Known for her unforgettable presence in Paris Is Burning, Venus embodied the courage it takes to live fully, fiercely, and fabulously as a trans woman of color in a world that often refuses to see us.
Venus dared to dream of a life beyond survival—a life of glamour, freedom, and dignity. Her story reminds us of the joy and the danger trans people navigate every day, and of the power of ballroom as a site of sanctuary, resistance, and radical imagination.
In her honor, we are offering the Venus Pellagatti Xtravaganza Legacy Fellowship—a paid opportunity for someone who fulfills the criteria below:
- BIPOC trans or gender diverse person
- 18 to 26 years old
- Considerable knowledge about ballroom culture
- Eager to make a change in New Jersey for LGBTQ+ rights!
This is more than a role—it’s an invitation to co-create, uplift, and carry forward the legacy of Venus and so many others who turned the margins into a runway. We welcome you to bring your brilliance, your voice, and your truth to this work.
Stipends will be available.
Babs Siperstein Fellowship
Babs Siperstein was a trailblazer for equality, and our movement wouldn’t be where we are today without her courage and commitment. In 2019, Babs Siperstein passed away at 76 years old–keeping her legacy alive Garden State Equality established the Babs Siperstein Fellowship with seed funding from Babs’ own Gender Rights Advocacy of New Jersey organization.
Babs came out in 2000 and immediately became an activist for LGBTQ equality in New Jersey, serving as an original board member for Garden State Equality. Most notably, over the course of her advocacy in New Jersey, Babs helped advocate for marriage equality, transgender inclusive nondiscrinimation protections, and the Babs Siperstein Law.
Babs was the first openly transgender member of the Democratic National Committee, where she was appointed by then-chairman Tim Kaine. She was appointed to the Democratic National Committee’s Executive Committee in 2011, where she served until October 2017.
This fellowship opportunity is for young trans adults, looking to continue Babs’ legacy through advocacy, and advancing policy both at the local, state, and national level. Fellows will work alongside Garden State Equality for a fall, spring, or summer term. They will be compensated with a stipend and are eligible to receive credit with permission from the school.