National LGBT civil rights leader, Campus Pride founder Shane Windmeyer kicks off his LGBT History Month National Campus Tour as IUPUI keynote and spreads his message against "bullying and harassment" to over a dozen colleges and universities across the country this Fall

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Shane Windmeyer, founder and executive director of Campus Pride, the leading national non-profit working to build future LGBT and straight ally student leaders, is scheduled to keynote IUPUI’s Inaugural Harvey Milk Dinner on National Coming Out Day, Oct. 11, 2010, 6:30 p.m., IUPUI Campus Center, Room 450C. The engagement kicks off Windmeyer's LGBT History Month National Campus Tour to over twelve colleges and universities this Fall.

Windmeyer’s visit to the university comes on the heels of a local bakery’s refusal to fill a special order for IUPUI’s LGBT student organization. What outrageous sweet tooth-soothing delight did the students request? Rainbow cookies and cupcakes. Despite the natural impulse to laugh at this confectionary controversy, Windmeyer says the discrimination doled out by this local business is no joking matter.

“LGBT people experience harassment and discrimination every day,” he says. “Sometimes the discrimination is outright, other times it is subtle. Either way, the discrimination is serious and always indicative of the hostile environments in which LGBT people must live, grow, learn and work.”

In September, Campus Pride’s Q Research Institute for Higher Education joined Campus Progress and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus in releasing its landmark 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People. The report, which included data and experiences collected from more than 6,000 students, faculty and staff across the nation, detailed higher rates of harassment, discrimination and negative learning and living environments for LGBT people. Learn more about the report and its recommendations for institutions of higher education at www.campuspride.org/research.

Windmeyer hopes his LGBT History Month College Tour and specifically IUPUI’s GLBT Heritage Month series of events, will encourage more students and faculty, as well as community members and business owners, to speak out and stand up for LGBT people’s rights to live, work and learn in a safe, welcoming and nurturing climate.

Safety, inclusion and how we respond to acts of harassment and hate, Windmeyer says, is "key to preventing tragedy," such as the several gay young people whose suicides were documented by national news-media last month.

“The tragedies we saw happen across the nation in September were preventable,” Windmeyer says. “The movement to create safer and more welcoming homes, schools, colleges and communities for our youth must be a priority. That is my message this National Coming Out Day and for this national tour.”

To learn more about Campus Pride programs and services, please visit www.CampusPride.org or email info@campuspride.org. Learn more about Windmeyer and his LGBT History Month Tour, call CAMPUSPEAK at 303-745-5545 or go online to www.ShaneWindmeyer.com.