Another year. Another Creating Change. And, as always, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force never seems to amaze.

I was honored to attend Creating Change in Baltimore for my second time ever last weekend. This year, I went with a new role and new title at a new organization. Working with and meeting some of the brilliantly talented and engaged college student leaders who attended Campus Pride's day-long Queer It Up Young Adult Leadership Institute was definitely the highlight of my experience. I'm pretty sure our executive director, Shane Windmeyer, our board member, Nikita Burks, and phenom volunteer Ted Lewis would say the same.

(Pictured right: Forty students from across the nation attended the Campus Pride day-long Queer It Up Young Adult Leadership Institute at Creating Change, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.)

Just about 40 students attended the day-long institute, engaging in conversations on what it meant to be a student leader on campus and a leader in their greater communities. They delved into the types of characteristics that make up for a good leader, among them fairness, honesty, trustworthiness, communicativeness, understanding, approachableness and passion.

"A leader should feel empowered to act when others can't, won't or are uncomfortable," said one student leader.

I couldn't agree more. But being a leader doesn't always mean speaking out. It certainly has nothing to do with "power" or privilege. Leadership comes in all sorts of forms and requires, first and foremost, the about to connect with others, working with others and empowering others. It sounds so cliche, but it is true: Teamwork makes the dreamwork.

Earlier today, we posted a bit on a great discussion our student leaders had at Campus Pride's Queer It Up Youth Leadership Action Institute yesterday at Creating Change, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's annual conference being held this weekend in Balitmore, Md.

The students talked at length on a variety of challenges they were experiencing on their campuses. In part one of the blog post, we explored students' thoughts on program collaboration with campus allies and partners, trans inclusion in student groups and on campus and group cohesion and internal issues.

We'll move on to the students' last two major concerns now: dealing with conservative and religious groups on campus and finding campus resources for fundraising and programming.

Read the rest after the jump...

The Campus Pride crew is in the Charm City this weekend for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference, the largest gathering of LGBT and progressive activists across the country. Baltimore has welcomed us with open arms and we're each excited to be meeting and engaging with so many friends, new and old.

We had a phenomenal day at Campus Pride's day-long pre-conference for LGBT college and university students yesterday, our Queer It Up Youth Leadership Action Institute. MOre than 40 student leaders joined us for a full day of networking, learning, brainstorming and fun.

(Photo right: Students in a small group discuss one of the major challenges facing their campuses.)

As we've done at past Creating Change events, we spent a good chunk of our afternoon discussing the greatest challenges student leaders find themselves facing on their campuses and within their LGBT student organizations. Breaking our students up into five groups, we tackled five major discussion topics that encompass their own set of challenges and opportunities unique to each campus. The students -- representing everything from small, rural schools to large and well-known state schools -- came up with some interesting solutions, tips and tricks.

Here are some of the highlights on three of the topics: program collaboration with campus allies and partners, trans inclusion in student groups and on campus and group cohesion and internal issues. Join us back here later today at the Campus Pride Blog for a longer post on the last two: dealing with conservative and religious groups on campus and finding campus resources for fundraising and programming.

Continue reading after the jump...

Saturday was a blast here at Creating Change -- another day of phenomenal workshops, coalition building and friend-making.

Campus Pride presented our 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People yesterday, too. About 40 folks gathered to hear the presentation from Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer and Chicora Martin, Assistant Dean of Students and Director, LGBTESSP, at the University of Oregon. Both Shane and Chicora did great in the absence of lead researcher Sue Rankin. Though Sue wasn't able to make it to the conference this weekend, her wonderful PowerPoint really made the presentation work.

There was good info and stats for any person working in higher ed, a very interested and engaged audience (including even undergrad students), and folks who definitely wanted to learn more and broaden the scope of the already-existing data Campus Pride has gathered. We love building new coalitions and relationships and welcome those who want to work with us to get our report into more hands on campuses and in communities. We really believe data is vital: Use it to back up your claims and support your initiatives on campus. Administrators love numbers, and the State of Higher Ed report's are hard to argue with.

Last but not least was the MasQueerAde Ball. Hundreds of young people and students gathered at the Hilton Minneapolis ballroom to hear performances by comedian Ben Lerman and spoken word artist Kit Yan. We couldn't have asked for a better end to our night!

Yesterday, Campus Pride was thrilled to have 50 or so young adults for our day-long Young Adult Leadership Institute preceding Creating Change. The conference, hosted by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, officially started last night with comedian Kate Clinton starting it off right with laughs, wit and humor.

Today, 2,000 people are making their rounds to sessions ranging from social media activism and campus organizing to transgender inclusion in faith communities and sessions on polling and surveying. There's something for everyone here in Minneapolis (and, if you've never come to a Creating Change, we highly recommend you check it out next year).

Of the thousands of conference attendees, a significant portion are youth and young adults. It's so exciting to see so many young faces dot the crowd. Students from across the country have come to network with each other and learn invaluable ways they can begin to make change on their campuses and in their communities.

(Photo right: Bucknell University Assistant Provost Robert Midkiff discusses his campus' safe space programs at Creating Change 2011.)

This morning, Campus Pride staff got the chance to stop in on a couple sessions on campus organizing. In particular, we were pretty impressed with the session presented by Bucknell University on creating safe spaces in Greek life and in athletics programs. Their unique, student-led and -driven safe spaces programming has truly made a difference on their campus and can be a great model for others.

As we headed to our Bucknell University session, however, we were stopped by a small photo exhibit from Jeff Sheng's "Fearless" exhibit. The photos document and chronicle the lives of out, LGBTQ college and high school athletes. Sheng takes an amazing photograph, for sure, but it's the stories of these amazingly brave young people that really pull on our heartstrings. Check out the photos: www.fearlesscampustour.org.

Extra: Be sure to follow us on Twitter, @campuspride, for live updates from Creating Change!

Are you at Creating Change? Stop by our Campus Pride table on the third floor of the Hilton for great resources and information on how to get involved with Campus Pride or create change in your schools.

Campus Pride's Queer It Up Young Adult Leadership Institute at Creating Change 2011 has been a blast. We're winding down the day, which is sad because we've grown to love every body here! At least we have the rest of the weekend to continue getting to know you!

After lunch, the group tackled conflict management. Every organization, gay or straight, experiences unique dynamics. Learning how to approach conflicts and doing it successfully can grow your group and ensure its longevity.

How would you approach an individual member in your group? How would you address conflict when approaching a larger group of members? What resources do student organizations have in tackling these challenges and seeking solutions?

These are important questions made a little bit easier if one has a sense of their own leadership and conflict management styles. People deal with conflict and other difficult situations in different ways. Being aware of your own personality as well as the personalities of your fellow student leaders can make a response to conflict run more smoothly.

The group is having phenomenal conversation on all of these complex issues. As we get closer to the end of our day-long institute we'll take all of these conversations and bring them to a head, asking each of our student leaders to draft an action plan for creating change on their campuses and in their communities.

Identifying challenges, seeking success
Students discuss in small groups issues with which they've experienced a challenge or issues with which they've already experienced success.

What is a leader? What are the qualities and characteristics of a leader? Their values and beliefs?

Young adult and student leaders at Campus Pride's Queer It Up Young Adult Leadership Institute at Creating Change today are answering that question.

According to our students, leaders can be well-rounded, have a reach-for-the-stars mentality, supports the grassroots, is strong and passionate, outspoken, dedicated and responsible, respectful and understand, a good listener, and confident, courageous and brave.

But leaders come in all sorts of different shapes, sizes and styles. Circumstances also call for different types of leaders: for example, a single person can't be in expert in every field. That's why group work, collaboration and alliance building is so important.

And, one last important characteristic to note: Leaders are human, like you and me.

Draw it out: What is a Leader?

The Campus Pride team and our phenomenal young people attending our day-long institute today are off to a great start! Bright minds, conversation and faces: We're happy to meet you, too!

About 40 young people are at the Queer It Up Young Adult Leadership Institute today. They're from high schools and colleges alike and looking to build their leadership skills. Throughout the day, we'll guide them through several activities: Facing challenges and working toward successes on campus or in their communities, leadership style, conflict management, inclusion and more.

At the end of the day, each student will have the chance to draft an action plan to create change back at their campuses or in their communities. It will be an inspiring day, indeed!

Photos: Who Am I?
We all come to the table with multiple identities. Who we are impacts how we interact with the world. This session lets our young people delve a little deeper into who they are and what identities they bring to this group and your organizations.

Campus Pride and OUTmedia are proud to give you this little sneak peek into an exciting campaign we'll launch at this year's National Gay and Lesbian Task Force annual Creating Change conference in Minneapolis, Minn.

The Queer it Up! campaign, to be launched at Creating Change's 2nd annual MasQueerAde Ball on Saturday, Feb. 5 (read more below), is designed to give LGBT and allied youth and student leaders the resources, tools, tips and tricks they need to take action, organize and create change on their campuses, in their communities and for the nation and world!

Each Friday, the Campus Pride Blog team will bring you Take Action alerts, tools and resources and feature special resources like campus speakers from the Campus Pride HOT LIST!, a list of the Top 25 LGBT Favorite speakers, performers, artists and poets.

So, get ready, get set and go! And, be prepared to learn some kick-ass, jump-starting lessons for taking action and creating change in YOUR world.

MasQueerAde Ball: Kit Yan and Ben Lerman

Campus Pride teams up this year with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and their Creating Change conference; OUTmedia; Campus Progress; the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Programs Office of the University of Minnesota; District 202; and Shades of Yellow to present this year's 2nd annual MasQueerAde Ball, Creating Change's special Saturday night dance party for youth under the age of 24.

The event includes special performances from OUTmedia ukulele comedian Ben Lerman and spoken word artist Kit Yan.

For more information and to RSVP, check out the event listing on Facebook or visit:
campusprogress.org/events/the_masqueerade_ball_at_the_creating_change_2011_conference/

Campus Pride heads to Texas next week for the 22nd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change hosted at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 3 - 7, 2010. Since 1988, Creating Change has been the nation’s pre-eminent political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBT social justice movement. Every year, the conference moves across the country and brings a JOLT of activism and thousands of progressive minds together. The timing could not be better frankly (or -- for AT&T it could not be worse!)

So as I was packing my bags and reading the weather reports, I ran across this bit of NEWS from the Dallas Voice titled "Partner denied sick leave by AT&T" from Jan 28, 2010. I am REALLY hoping this is not true. But, if it is, I think it's time for thousands of LGBT and ally -- progressive queers -- to make a SWITCH!

Partner denied sick leave by ATT
By John Wright | News Editor wright@dallasvoice.com
Jan 28, 2010 - 7:14:06 PM
Despite 100% rating from HRC, company won’t allow gay man time off to care for ailing spouse

Bryan Dickenson, left, and Bill Sugg hold hands in Sugg’s room at a rehabilitation facility in Richardson on Wednesday, Jan. 27. (John Wright/Dallas Voice)

RICHARDSON — Bryan Dickenson and Bill Sugg have been together for 30 years. For the last 12 of those years, Dickenson has worked as a communications technician for Dallas-based AT&T.