New Equality License Plates!

Show your support while raising scholarships

Equality Maricopa, an LGBTQIA+ affinity group for Maricopa Community Colleges, is close to launching Arizona’s first LGBTQIA+ specialty license plate. An LGBTQIA+ license plate will fund scholarships for students attending a Maricopa Community College.The group is seeking to become the fourth license plate of its kind in the entire United States. The initiative will align with the organization’s mission to raise awareness, promote inclusivity, and provide funding for LGBTQIA+ students in an effort to reduce barriers making education more accessible.

“We know that resources for our students are more critical than ever before,” said Franzen, president-elect of Equality Maricopa. “Many of our students have to choose between going to school or finding their next meal, and many are left without family support. Our group has been tirelessly trying to fill that void.” With the potential launch of the license plate, Equality Maricopa would receive $17 of the $25 specialty license plate fee, with funds going directly into its PRISM scholarship fund, serving as a permanent funding source for decades to come.

“In the fight for equality, visibility is our greatest resource,” said Lindsey Wilson, the group’s communications and marketing officer. “Nearly one in five of our students identify as part of the LGBQIA+ community. Equality Maricopa wants to ensure that every one of them is welcomed with open arms and feels safe on our campuses.”

The group needs to raise approximately $10,000 more in funds to cover the fee required to launch a new specialty plate. The group will be hosting fundraisers throughout June during Pride Month as a way to help raise additional awareness and hopefully cross the finish line.

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company will host a fundraiser for the group on Saturday, June 10, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will launch a special PRISM Bru for the occasion. A portion of the proceeds from the event, and sales of the special brew, will go directly to help launch the license plate. The PRISM Bru is available for purchase during the month of June.

Individuals can also contribute to the group by visiting the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation website and donating directly to the PRISM scholarship fund at mcccdf.org/prism-scholarship-fund/.