| (Charlotte, NC) — Over 40 student leaders from colleges and universities across the United States will participate in the first-ever camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college students. The five day long leadership camp from July 24-29, 2007 is affectionately referred to as “Gay Camp” and will be hosted by the Queer Student Union on the campus of Towson University in Towson, Maryland.
Keynote highlights include Neil G. Giuliano, Executive Director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); Sabrina Sojourner, the First Open Lesbian Elected to the United States Congress, Kevin Naff, the Editor of the Washington Blade, Andria Ruben McCool, Advisor to Google, and Vernon Wall, National Activist, Social Justice Educator & Author. Artists and entertainers are booked for each night of camp and will feature riotously outrageous international sensation Vidur Kapur, the sketch comedy troupe GayCo, national slam master and author Emanuel Xavier and acclaimed singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll among others.
Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride and recent author of The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students profiling the “100 Best LGBT-Friendly Campuses,” stated, “Wow! The camp attendance more than exceeded our expectations for the first year. We are absolutely thrilled with the diversity and quality of student leaders coming to camp. These leaders are our future and will play a key role in advancing the movement for LGBT rights. The camp is just one way Campus Pride invests in that future today.”
For over six months, Campus Pride has coordinated a dozen LGBT educators and activists to plan the camp. These individuals will also serve as the camp faculty who will deliver the five day curriculum of skill building in leadership development, social justice and civic involvement. In addition, other camp highlights include a GLAAD campus media training, a Soulforce direct action and civil disobedience workshop and a program by the Human Rights Campaign in campaign training and political organizing.
Camp sponsors and endorsers include Ernst & Young LLC, Matthew Shepard Foundation, Chartwells (Compass Group USA), Terry Bean, Towson University, the Human Rights Campaign, OUTmedia, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians & Gays, Equality Maryland, Tyvola Design, National Consortium of Directors of LGBT Resources in Higher Education, Out for Work, Gay & Gender Research, The Point Foundation, Triangle Foundation, Frameline, Harris Productions, Wooftease, Public Identity, and OutRight Speakers & Talent. More information available online at Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) or email info@campuspride.org.
Campus Pride is the only national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create a safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders.
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