Fourth Annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp Kicks Off at Vanderbilt University for LGBT and Ally Students this week July 20-25
Nearly 60 LGBT and ally college students from across the country; Campus Pride Organizes Leaders for Grassroots Change at Colleges & Universities

(Nashville, TN) -- Campus Pride kicks off the fourth annual summer leadership camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college students from colleges and universities across the country. The camp begins July 20 to 25, 2010 and will be hosted for the first time on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

Though summer is often a slow time of year for student organizers working for LGBT equality, today nearly sixty LGBT and ally college student leaders from all over the country came together for a week of planning, networking and training. Touted as the “only camp of its kind for LGBT advocacy and social justice,” the five-day camp experience blends traditional camp activities like arts and crafts with a core curriculum of skill building in leadership development, social justice and civic involvement. The camp mission is straightforward: “At the heart of a remarkable leader is a passion and a vision for change.” Camp training and activities underscore the camp mission and engage campers to explore the unique challenges faced as LGBT and ally campus leaders.

Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride and author of The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students profiling the “100 Best LGBT-Friendly Campuses,” stated “It is our responsibility to build the future leaders who will continue the fight for equality at home, at work, at places of worship, at all levels of community. Those future leaders are on our college campuses today. The camp makes an investment for the future and will play a key role in training the next generation of leaders in the movement for LGBT rights.”

Featured keynotes include Campus Pride's Executive Director Windmeyer as well as Mara Keissling from the National Center for Transgender Equality, Dr. John Corvino of Wayne State University and writer of 365gay.com, out gay athlete Brian Sims who is also on the board chair of EqualityPA, Dr. Marisa Richmond of Tennessee Equality Project, national bisexual advocate and author Robyn Ochs as well as D’Arcy Meyer of the National Gay & Lesbian Law Association.

Of course, the camp will not be all leadership training and will be far from your typical camp experience. Campers will engage in a range of social activities this week including premier movie nights sponsored by Wolfe Video and coffeehouse entertainment featuring national progressive queer acts like Kit Yan of OUTmedia and Randi Driscoll from the Matthew Shepard Foundation.There is also a day trip planned to meet local LGBT and ally Nashville leaders and to explore the music city capitol of the world. Still at the heart of the camp experience this week is the traditional kind of bonding opportunities and lifetime networks that only can be found at camp.

Nikita Burks, Campus Pride volunteer and Pride Leader for Camp says: “I am so thrilled to be involved with Campus Pride and this ‘extraordinary’ camp. Not only will the camp transform and build future leaders but it will also be away to impact college campuses and create safer learning environments across the United States.”

National sponsors and educational partners for camp include Cargill, Food Lion, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force,Human Rights Campaign, Campuspeak, HazingPrevention.org, OUTmedia, Matthew Shepard Foundation,Tyvola Design, Gamma Mu Foundation, BW Bastian Foundation, Alliance for Full Acceptance, Charlotte Gay & Lesbian Fund, Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, Campus Progress, National Youth Advocacy Coalition, National Lesbian and Gay Law Association, Public Identity, Point Foundation, ACPA – College Educators International, The Trevor Project, RSVP Vacations and LGBTQI Office of Vanderbilt University.

Learn more online at www.CampusPride.org or follow camp here at the Campus Pride Blog this week. www.CampusPrideBlog.org. You can also follow Campus Pride on Facebook and Twitter.