WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced today the Obama Administration has reached out to young people nationwide, including LGBT youth, to apply for a White House internship. The new program, which would take place this summer, would offer youth valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff. The Human Rights Campaign Youth and Campus Outreach Program has provided a link for those interested in applying: www.hrc.org/issues/12473.htm.

"Administration officials have reiterated to us their strong desire that the interns working in the White House should reflect the diversity of the country and that LGBT youth are part of that diversity," said Candace Gingrich, senior manager for the HRC Foundation's Youth and Campus Outreach Program. "After eight years of a president who essentially ignored LGBT Americans, it is a step forward to have President Obama reaching out to queer youth and inviting them to take an active part in his administration."

In addition to normal office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, help at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects. The 2009 Summer Internship program runs from May 22 to August 14, and the submission deadline is March 22, 2009.

Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed:

The Youth & Campus Outreach Program provides tools, facilitates connections, and empowers GenEQ to fight for LGBT equality on campus and beyond. Generation Equality, the current group of high school and college-aged young people, is more supportive of LGBT equality than any other generation in our country's history. As young people work to attain the goals of the queer community on their campuses, it is the aim of the Youth and Campus Outreach Program to provide tools and help facilitate connections with other LGBT student activists across the country.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.