Yes! It's true: Registration for Campus Pride's fifth annual Summer Leadership Camp is open online.

Camp Pride returns to Nashville, Tenn., on this anniversary year with brand new and exciting programming and features. As usual, the camp will be a place where LGBTQ and ally students learn to "Lead with Pride," but we're most excited about this year's first-ever Advisor Bootcamp.

The Advisor Bootcamp is a special, professional track during the camp, with new skill-building experiences for LGBTQ and ally organization/club advisors.

The five-day event will be held at Vanderbilt University, July 19-24, 2011.

Our Happy Camper Discount ends on April 16, so start registering today!

To register for camp or for more registration information (including scholarships), visit CampusPride.org/camppride/register.html. For more information about camp, its mission, what to bring, etc., visit CampusPride.org/camppride/.

Stay tuned! Come back to CampusPrideBlog.org in the coming days and weeks for our Queer It Up! Take Action Fridays. We'll include tips and suggestions on how you can fundraise for events on and off your campus, including how to fundraise for Camp registration.

CAMP PRIDE is on it's way!

It's so exciting to be able to announce the dates, location and registration rates for the fifth annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp, aptly called "CAMP PRIDE."

CAMP PRIDE will be held at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., from July 19-24, 2011.

It's a phenomenal event, and we encourage you to check it out whether you're a student or faculty member. Additionally, we're encouraging folks to sign up as camp faculty and Pride leaders before Jan. 4, 2011. Click here to learn more and apply.

P.S. -- Be sure to check out some bits about past "Queer Camp" from camper, Pride leader and Campus Pride blogger Ash Wickell.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 22, 2010

Media Contact:
Brian Stack 413-949-6227 bstackuri@gmail.com
http://www.uri.edu/glbt

Midnight Tonight: Students Protest LGBT Campus Safety at University of Rhode Island

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students stand united and demand campus administrators enact inclusive safety and climate measures

KINGSTON, R.I. – Student leaders with the University of Rhode Island’s GLBT Center and Gay-Straight Alliance will participate in a nonviolent, direct action protest to demand University administration take immediate steps to ensure the safety and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, faculty and staff.

Tonight at 12:01 a.m., University of Rhode Island students will occupy the 24-hour room in the University Library and are vigilant in remaining there until their requests for LGBT institutional support are met by college administrators.

On-campus harassment in learning spaces, common areas, residence halls and elsewhere is among several issues being protested by the students. They allege that some staff and students who have spoken out against the harassment have been intimidated into submission by the University administration.

“We have had students throwing used condoms into students’ rooms, drawing offensive images on people’s doors, and an epidemic of people yelling ‘faggots’ as they drive by the GLBT Center,” says Brian Stack, a junior and protest organizer, whose concerns are echoed by other students.

Says sophomore Justin Willner, a staff member at the GLBT Center: “The atmosphere on the Kingston campus makes it clear I am second rate and my wellbeing is not valued.”

Student leaders representing the LGBT community have met with University administrators, including Vice President for Student Affairs Tom Dougan, to discuss and implement solutions. Despite having ample time to do so, there has been little concrete progress to ensure the safety and equality of LGBT students, faulty and staff, and Dougan admits he has failed the LGBT community.

Among the students' demands are a new GLBT Center to replace the inadequate and unsafe facility currently housed in a freshman residence hall. Students also say they want an increased budget for LGBT programming – the GLBT Center finds itself understaffed, undercompensated, and without the resources needed to serve its growing community or offer workplace and sensitivity training for faculty, staff, and students.

The students’ direct action protest is peaceful and nonviolent. At all times, a door will be left open for access in and out of the room. Members of the University community, family members and the press are invited to join in the protest. Student organizers encourage other students, faculty and staff to skip their classes in protest and join them in the 24-hour room until the college administration addresses the protest concerns.

Note: One of the protest organizers Brian Stack is a graduate of the Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp. The camp was held this past July on the campus of Vanderbilt University. http://www.campuspride.org/camp.asp

Campus Pride's 2010 Summer Leadership Camp (which was fabulously phenomenal, by the way) got some great shout outs from Nashville's Out and About Newspaper and 365Gay.com columnist John Corvino. We thought we'd share...

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Campus Pride fires up Vanderbilt attendees
National group hold summer leadership camp in Nashville
by Joe Morris, Out and About Newspaper, Aug. 1, 2010

In an effort to get into areas of the country where GLBT students face more issues, the Campus Pride organization held its summer leadership camp at

Vanderbilt University in late July.

Campus Pride works with student leaders and campus groups to create a safer college environment for GLBT students. Its nationwide volunteer network helps to develop resources, programs and services on campuses across the country, and its summer leadership camp plays a major role in that effort, says Shane Windmeyer, one the group’s cofounders and its executive director. Read the rest at O&AN...

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Corvino: What I learned at gay leadership camp
By John Corvino, 365gay.com, July 30, 2010

"Remind me, dear,” I said to my partner Mark on the way to the airport, “what I am absolutely, positively not doing again next year?”

“You are not doing Camp next year,” he dutifully replied.

We had repeated this dialogue many times in the weeks leading up to Campus Pride’s annual Leadership Camp, a week of intense workshops and other activities for LGBTQ and allied college students, which was held this year at Vanderbilt University July 20-25. Read the rest at 365gay.com...

Campus Pride hosted fourth annual LGBT & Ally Summer Leadership Camp, July 20-25, 2010 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN
National LGBT & ally college nonprofit recognizes Keissling of National Center for Transgender Equality with national leadership award as well as Driscoll, Topping, Barth, Thomison, Burks, D’Allaird, Graving, Brown & Feldman with “Campys” for distinguished volunteer service

(Charlotte, NC) -- Campus Pride hosted its fourth annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp from July 20-25, 2010 on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. The camp is the only one of its kind geared toward mobilizing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders from colleges and universities across the United States.

Nearly sixty college student leaders attended the five day camp from over thirty-five colleges and universities. Featured camp keynotes included Campus Pride founder/executive director Shane 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 and D’Arcy Meyer of the National Gay & Lesbian Law Association.

Campus Pride also bestowed its National Voice & Action Leadership Award to Mara Keissling of the National Center for Transgender Equality. The award recognizes a national leader in the LGBT and ally movement who believes in the Campus Pride mission to build future leaders and create awareness, safety and visibility for LGBT students on campus.

Read more after the jump...

A scrapbook of photos from this year's Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.

Learn more about Campus Pride's annual Summer Leadership Camp: www.campuspride.org/camp.asp

More Camp 2010 coverage:
A post card from Camp, July 23
Tuesday at Queer Camp, July 21
Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp Kicks Off at Vanderbilt University, July 21
Epic Road Trip and Campus Pride Orientation, July 20
Pack your bags! We're heading to Camp!, July 19

Photos: See more photos from Camp 2010 at Facebook! And, be sure to friend us and "Like" us!

It might be hot, humid and sticky, but that's not ruining the fun at Campus Pride's Summer Leadership Camp 2010.

All the campers gathered for a group photo this week. Take a look-see at all the happy, smiling faces of LGBTQI and straight ally campus leaders from across the nation!

Coverage from the week:
Tuesday at Queer Camp, July 21
Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp Kicks Off at Vanderbilt University, July 21
Epic Road Trip and Campus Pride Orientation, July 20
Pack your bags! We're heading to Camp!, July 19

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.”

We're less than one day away! Campus Pride's Summer Leadership Camp 2010 kicks off tomorrow at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Last week, Camp got some quick shout outs. One of our Camp staff, John Corvino, gave us a quick nod at 365gay.com, as did Campus Progress -- whose Events Associate, Vincent Paolo Villano, is joining us as Camp faculty.

Check back here through the week as Pride Leaders Laura Graving and Ash Wickell keep us updated on all the cool happenings and goings-on at Camp. They'll share their thoughts through blogs posts, photos and vlogs! In fact, Ash got a jump on the vlogging this weekend. Check out hirs "(Re)Introduction" for more.

Whether you're one of gang heading to Nashville tomorrow, someone who had planned to come but couldn't or someone who might be interested in joining us next year (we so hope you do!), we thought it'd be a great idea to give our own "shout outs" and introduce this year's staff and faculty.

Read more after the jump...

Campus Pride kicks off our 2010 Summer Leadership Camp July 20! Hosted at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., the camp lasts through July 25. Don't miss your opportunity to get into the fun, meet amazing LGBTQA campus organizers from around the country and develop skills to create more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. Participants have the opportunity to learn valuable campus organizing skills, coalition building and strategies for creating change at colleges and universities.

This last day to register is this Friday, July 9. Learn more or register online today!