ACLU Asks Court to Stop Camdenton School District from Illegally Censoring LGBT Websites; School District Ignored Requests to Remove Web Filter to Avoid Liability for Unconstitutional Viewpoint-Based Censorship

Campus Pride statement:

"Finding a LGBT-friendly college and learning about valuable LGBT services on campuses should not be blocked for any reason. Every young person should have access in their schools to such online information provided by Campus Pride, especially those seeking safer, more welcoming places to learn, live and grow," said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride. "Our online resources are essential in delivering a message of hope and support -- and in changing the lives of LGBT and ally young people."

ACLU RELEASE ABOUT THE FILING:

ST. LOUIS – The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Eastern Missouri filed a lawsuit against Camdenton R-III School District today after the district ignored warnings that its Internet filtering software had been improperly configured to block access to web content geared toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of LGBT organizations whose websites are blocked by the filter: PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays), the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Campus Pride and DignityUSA, a Catholic LGBT organization.

Campus Pride wants to know what the response was to Day of Silence -- tell us, show us what you did?!

Be featured on the Campus Pride blog -- Send your stories and pics to info@campuspride.org.

Announcing The Official Release Of
American Heroes Coming Out From Behind The Badge
Stories From Police, Fire and EMS Professionals "Out" On the Job

January 11, 2011 - Santa Rosa, California. Author Greg Miraglia announced today the official release of his second book, "American Heroes coming Out From Behind The Badge - Stories from police, fire, and EMS Professionals "Out" on the job."

The stories contained in this book were written by real police officers, firefighters, and EMS Professionals about their own coming out journeys. Each story is unique, but shares the common experience of coming out while working as a public safety professional. These courageous people are truly role models who have demonstrated that you can be "out" on the job and still be successful. All of them are doing their part to combat the unofficial "don't ask, don't tell" policy that exits in many police departments, fire departments, and EMS agencies.

"It's truly an honor to share with the world the stories of some special and amazing police officers, firefighters, and EMS Professionals from around the United States who are currently serving communities just like the one you live in. What makes these dedicated public servants extra special is that they happen to be gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender. They also happen to be "out" despite the homophobia that still exists in within all three of these public safety professions," said Miraglia.

In his first book, Mr. Miraglia told his own coming out story after working for three different law enforcement agencies and rising to the rank of deputy chief. In addition to the new stories in this new book, Mr. Miraglia offers more advice based on what he has learned since coming out in 2004.

WIN $10,000 in FREE Entertainment for Your Campus

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MON, APRIL 26

OUTmedia & Campus Pride "Be Queer, Buy Queer!" International Video Contest

Learn more online at www.OUTmedia.org

THE SUMMER CAMP
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT...

"I have come to realize that without Campus Pride & Camp, I would have never felt the true empowerment that I feel everyday. I would never have truly voiced my opinion on what is needed on campus. It is because of Camp that my fire can never ever again be put out. It is because of Camp that I know even if only small changes are made, I will still be leaving my campus better off." -- Roxie Schmidt, (Camp Class of 2009) University of Wisconsin -- Eau Claire

CAMPUS PRIDE
SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP

July 20-25, 2010
hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN

REGISTER NOW
Learn more online at www.campuspride.org/camp.asp

SPACE IS LIMITED
Register Before April 16, 2010
for Happy Camper Discount Rate

Campus Pride organizes the only Summer Leadership Camp for LGBT and Ally college students. The five-day camp experience works to develop stronger undergraduate student leaders and safer, 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.

Believe In -- Campus Pride. Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders. More info online at www.campuspride.org.

REGISTER NOW

2010 Regional LGBT & Ally College Conferences

Every year thousands of LGBT college students and their allies meetfrom coast to coast to network, learn and celebrate with PRIDE. Choose from several LGBT national events and regional conferences across the United States. REGISTER NOW.

Feb 19-21 -- Midwest BGLTA College Conference
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
http://www.mblgtacc.org

Feb19-21 -- Western Regional LGBTQIA Conference
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
http://www.comeoutwest.org

April 2-4 -- Power of One Northwest LGBT Conference
Co-hosted by Washington StateUniversity and University of Idaho
http://www.nwlgbtleadership.wsu.edu/

Apr16-18 -- Northeast LGBT Conference
University at Buffalo – http://www.nelgbtc.com

Campus Pride is a Proud Partner

Believe In -- Campus Pride. Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give "voice and action" in building future LGBT and ally leaders. More information online at www.campuspride.org

The Rainbow Challenge is the most unique GLBT entertainment series ever. This educational web based video series will put 10 diverse GLBT people in an extreme competition where they must learn to work and live together in order to stay in the game. In the end only one will walk away with a hefty cash prize and the title of The Rainbow Champion. Each Monday in September 2009 a new episode will be added to www.TheRainbowChallenge.com, a high quality flash website, as well as Youtube.com and immediately become viewable by millions worldwide. This show will be packed with high quality video and editing, a lively and loveable cast, beautiful nature scenes on location in Midwestern America, a wonderful soundtrack, family friendly dialogue, and an entertaining competition Reality Series style that has already established fan-base of a millions of viewers each week across television and the internet. This series will have periodic commercials touching on a variety of topics relevant to the GLBT community such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, self esteem issues, and pride. These public service announcements will be hosted by former contestants from several popular Prime-Time Reality Series including Survivor and The Amazing, Race. The mission of The Rainbow Challenge is to entertain in order to educate.