Campus Pride is excited to partner with the It Gets Better Project in promoting gay columnist and project founder Dan Savage's It Gets Better college tour across the U.S.

One of the most important things Campus Pride has learned in our more than 10 years of work with LGBTQ and ally college and university students is that life for queer youth doesn't just get better once they leave high school and go to college. Young people across the U.S. are taking the It Gets Better message to heart and are taking a stand on their campuses each and every day to create a better world for themselves, their peers, their communities and for future generations. Many high school students just beginning their higher education are choosing to attend colleges and universities that actively include and support LGBT students, by utilizing resources like Campus Pride's Campus Climate Index.

We're proud that Dan will be embarking on his college tour and reaching out to LGBTQ and ally young people in higher education, as well as other venues. Many of the issues faced by LGBT students in high school are also faced by those in college, whether it's continued social or religious pressure from parents or harassment and discrimination from fellow students or college officials. And, contrary to popular belief, not all colleges are LGBT-friendly. For example, did you know (from our 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People):

• Less than seven percent of accredited U.S. colleges and universities offer institutional support to LGBTQ and ally students, such as safe space/ally programming, LGBTQ faculty advisors or staff and LGBTQ student centers or facilities?
• Only 13 percent of colleges and universities include sexual identity policy protections?
• Just six percent of colleges and universities include gender identity and expression protections?

The inspiration Dan Savage brings to college and university campuses he will visit -- including those he's already visited, such as the College of William and Mary and the University of North Texas -- will uplift students who are still in the closet, empower those who are seeking positive change and help to shape more inclusive campus environments -- proving, indeed, that it does get better!

It Gets Better Tour Dates

2/16/12 Canisius College - Buffalo, NY
2/29/12 Clairemont McKenna College - Clairemont, CA
3/2/12 National Assn. of Independent Schools - Seattle, WA
3/6/12 University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY
3/7/12 Butler University - Indianapolis, IN
3/10/12 American Civil Liberties Union - Portland, OR
3/19/12 University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia, PA
3/20/12 American University - Washington D.C.
3/21/12 Lynn University - Boca Raton, FL
3/22/12 University of Western Ontario - Ontario, CANADA
4/13/12 National HS Journalism Convention - Seattle, WA
4/17/12 Bryant University - Smithfield, RI
4/18/12 Bowling Green University - Bowling Green, OH
4/19/12 Univ. of Vermont - Burlington, VT
4/20/12 Washington Library Association - Edmonds, WA
4/29/12 Elmhurst College - Elmhurst, IL
4/30/12 University of the Ozarks - Clarksville, AK
6/23/12 American School Counselor Assn. Annual Meeting / Minneapolis, MN
7/12/12 University Church of Christ - Cleveland, OH
11/3/12 U.C. Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

In addition to Savage's It Gets Better Tour, MTV and Logo have partnered to present the It Gets Better TV special featuring three young people and their stories. The special will air on both TV networks next Tuesday, Feb. 21, 11 p.m. Eastern. See the trailer below...