Third Annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp Starts Today

50+ student leaders attend national LGBT and ally leadership training from colleges and universities across the U.S.; Blog with Campers this week online at CampusPrideBlog.org

(Baltimore, MD – July 21, 2009) – Over 50 student leaders from colleges and universities across the United States will participate in the third annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college students. The five day long leadership camp from July 21-26, 2009 will be hosted on the campus of Towson University in Towson, Maryland. Blog every day with camper starting today at http://www.campusprideblog.org

Campus Pride Camp, the only one of its kind in the nation, is a five-day camp experience for LGBT and ally college students. The camp blends traditional camp activities with a core curriculum of skill building in leadership development, social justice and civic involvement. Campers will also have a field trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with congressional leaders including out lesbian Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin and other leaders of national LGBT and ally organizations and social justice groups. The mission of Campus Pride and camp is to give “voice and action” to young adult leaders and to build future leaders in our movement for equality.

Keynote highlights will include Mitchell Gold, editor of the new book CRISIS: Growing Up Gay in America; Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, President and Founder of the Washington Consulting Group; Cuc Vu, Human Rights Campaign Chief Diversity Officer; Patrick Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Patrick Davis Partners; Mara Kiessling, National Center for Transgender Equality President; Jessica Pettitt, Social Justice I am Trainer and Consultant; and Shane Windmeyer, Best-Selling Author and Executive Director of Campus Pride. Artists and entertainers booked for camp include national slam master and author Emanuel Xavier, acclaimed singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll, and southern camp drag diva Buff Faye All You Can Eat among others. Wolfe Video will also sponsor a special movie night screening of the critically acclaimed, multi-award winning film “Were the World Mine.”

“It’s time for camp and we are ready. Camp is the best experience ever for college student leaders – we come together and learn, grow and share our achievements,” said David Topping, Camp Pride Leader and one of the selected camp bloggers. “Camp is a wonderful way to learn from others and build lasting relationships for a lifetime. We can’t wait to blog about it this week.”

For over six months, Campus Pride has coordinated a team of higher education professionals and experts to plan and implement the camp. Camp sponsors include Cargill, Patrick Davis Partners, Booz Allen Hamilton, Best Buy, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Food Lion, Human Rights Campaign,Towson University Center for Student Diversity and LGBT Student Development Program, OUTmedia, Tyvola Design, Mary Bockover, Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Fenix Holidays, Campuspeak, Wolfe Video, Connexion.org, Point Foundation, Chipotle and Public Identity.

“Well, this is definitely a camp like no other. I wish it was around when I was in college,” said Michael Shutt, the Director of the LGBT Resource Center at Emory University and one of the camp faculty members and planners.

More information about Campus Pride and programs including camp is available at www.campuspride.org or by emailing info@campuspride.org. Follow along with camp this week online at http://www.campusprideblog.org.

Believe In -- Campus Pride. Campus Pride is the leading 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.