FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wed, November 4, 2009

Campus Pride College Fair Comes to New York City to Recruit Out LGBT & Ally Students this Friday, November 6, 2009

Nearly fifty colleges to attend national fair program in partnership with the New York LGBT Community Center

New York, NY, Wed, November 4, 2009 – This Friday Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) comes to New York City to host its national college fair, the only program in the nation for out lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally students to find LGBT-friendly colleges. The fair will take place on Friday, Nov. 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center at 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY. The fair is in partnership with the Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Program of the LGBT Community Center. More information available at http://www.campusclimateindex.org/events.

There are nearly fifty colleges currently registered to attend the fair from across the country including: Academy of Art University, Amherst College, Binghamton University, Bucknell University, Carleton College, Case Western Reserve University, Columbia College Chicago, Columbia University in the City of New York, Dartmouth College, Elon University, Emory University, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Grand Valley State University, Haverford College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Hofstra University, Indiana University, Ithaca College, Keystone College, Marlboro College, Marymount Manhattan College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Moravian College, Parsons The New School for Design, Point Foundation, Princeton University, Rutgers University, Stanford University, Suffolk University, SUNY College at Oneonta, SUNY Potsdam, Susquehanna University, Temple University, The Trevor Project, Trinity College, University at Albany (SUNY), University of Iowa, University of Pennsylvania, University of Vermont, Vanderbilt University, Vassar College, Washington and Lee University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Williams College and Yale University.

Whether you’re a public or private institution, one thing is for certain today – “more colleges and universities want to be considered ‘gay friendly, ’” said Shane Windmeyer, the executive director and founder of Campus Pride. “The question becomes whether the campus is willing to be present at a LGBT-Friendly college fair… and back up their policies with action.”

The YES Program of the LGBT Community Center partnered with the Campus Pride college fair program to provide outreach in the greater New York area for youth at area high schools and through their youth network. Organizers are excited about the response from high school guidance counselors seeking more information and the anticipated turnout for the fair.

”The list of colleges is impressive for this fair. Whether you’re a high school freshman or a senior, it is never too early to begin your college search process,” said Windmeyer, who is also the author of The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students, listing the “Top 100” LGBT-Friendly colleges and universities in the United States. “This is our third year for the Campus Pride national fair program on the East Coast and working with the YES program is key in getting a successful turnout of youth the day of the fair.”

The national college fair program is in tandem with Campus Pride’s LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index available online at http://www.campusclimateindex.org. The national index serves as a benchmark to measure LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices and provides a free online search tool for youth and families looking at LGBT-friendliness at colleges and universities. Currenty, the index has listed over 200 colleges and universities. Any campus may take part in the index to be listed online.

In addition, the fair will also feature a special presentation titled “Finding Your LGBT-Friendly Campus” by Windmeyer. The Trevor Project and Point Foundation will also be in attendance to share resources on college preparation and scholarships.

Campus Pride has one additional college fair planned for Spring 2010 – Los Angeles on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Registration is currently available for interested colleges and universities wishing to participate in the upcoming fair online at http://www.campusclimateindex.org/events.

Please note that participation is free and registration is not required for any LGBT or ally youth and their families. Any questions, please contact Campus Pride at 704-277-6710 or info@campuspride.org.

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Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders. More information online at www.campuspride.org.