Campus Pride's Lambda 10 Project had phenomenally fun -- and did we mention historic? -- weekend Nov. 12-13 at the OUT & Greek National LGBT & Ally Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Conference at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

Fifteen years ago, Lambda 10 Project started at Indiana University. We returned this year, to count our successes and celebrate our history while continuing to do what we do best: building and strengthening current and future LGBT & allied fraternity members, leaders, staff and organizations.

But you know what really made our weekend? Fifteen Indiana University students were initiated into the first out-of-state chapter for Sigma Phi Beta, a a gay-straight allied fraternity that got its first start at Arizona State University in 2003. After their initiation, the Sigma Phi guys joined us at our conference. It was a blast!

Just as Campus Pride and Lambda 10 Project head to Indiana University for the 2010 OUT & Greek Fraternity Leadership Conference, we learn that gay and straight ally fraternity Sigma Phi Beta will initiate their first out-of-state members at Indiana University this weekend.

Sigma Phi Beta, founded at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., will initiate 15 members at Indiana University. The school is the home of the oldest and largest college fraternity system.

"I look forward to welcoming the new members from the Indiana University colony into our Brotherhood,” Nathan Arrowsmith, the fraternity’s national president, says in a release.

Arrowsmith will preside over the Indiana University initiation ceremony.

"The students at Indiana University have worked hard to bring Sigma Phi Beta to their campus, opening up more opportunities for gay men and their allies to experience brotherhood within the traditional Greek fraternity system," Arrowsmith says. "This is our first major step towards achieving our vision of creating a uniquely diverse safe space within the traditional Greek fraternity system on college campuses nationwide."

Sigma Phi Beta was founded in 2003. It's national organization was formed in 2005.

For more information about Sigma Phi Beta Fraternity, visit www.sigmaphibeta.org.

Nearly 50 students and staff from fraternities across the country will gather this weekend at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., for the 2010 OUT & Greek National Leadership Conference.

OUT & Greek, presented by Campus Pride's Lambda 10 Project, is the only conference of its kind for LGBT & ally fraternity and sorority leaders, and offers students, faculty and advisors opportunities to share their stories of coming out in the Greek system, network with other LGBT & ally fraternity and sorority leaders, learn strategies to make their communities safer and more LGBT-friendly and more.

Download the full schedule for all the details(PDF), and check back here for updates over the weekend!

There's just one month left before Lambda 10 Project's OUT & Greek National LGBT & Ally Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Conference. The event is slated for Nov. 12-14 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.

OUT & Greek is the only conference of its kind for LGBT & ally fraternity and sorority leaders, and offers students, faculty and advisors opportunities to share their stories of coming out in the Greek system, network with other LGBT & ally fraternity and sorority leaders, learn strategies to make their communities safer and more LGBT-friendly and more.

Featured keynotes of this year’s conference include “Reel Diversity” by Brian C.Johnson, “The Time Is Now" with Shane Windmeyer, The New Gay Greek” with TJ Sullivan and “Always Wear Your Head” with Tyson Wooters. Featured sessions include a “Tell Your Story” student panel of LGBT fraternity and sorority members, "Transgender 101" roundtable, “Safe Space & Inclusion in Fraternities and Sororities” by Bucknell University as well as “Bystander Behavior” with Mike Dilbeck. There will also be a special Advisors Track for Fraternity & Sorority Professionals and a showing of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt for conference participants.

Over three days on the Indiana University campus, registered participants can expect to learn, mold their leadership and change action plans and get to know other student leaders through fun, resourceful and detailed workshops, featured presentations, discussion groups, special events, national keynote speakers and more.

“There is no other conference nationwide that offers the resources, information and networking LGBT & ally fraternity and sorority leaders need to create change,”said Natalie Shaak, national conference chair. “Each participant will return from the conference with an action plan for change and leadership, ready to tackle challenges in their fraternities and sororities, on campus and in their communities.”

Registration is available online at www.lambda10.org/outandgreek/. Early bird rates are available until November 1. The early bird rate for undergraduate students is $185 and $215 for professional staff, advisors and graduate students. Registration includes all program materials, keynotes and entertainment during the three day conference. A special hotel block is available until October 18 in the Indiana Memorial Union Biddle Hotel & Conference Center. Scholarships are available online or by emailing info@campuspride.org.

The Lambda 10 Project, founded in 1995, works to heighten the visibility of LGBT members of the college fraternity and sorority by serving as a clearinghouse for educational resources and materials related to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Lambda 10 is an educational initiative of Campus Pride, a national non-profit working to create safer, more LGBT-inclusive colleges and build future LGBT and ally leaders.

To date the sponsors of the conference include CAMPUSPEAK, the GLBT Student Support Services Office of Indiana University and the Bloomington Hotel and Convention Services. To learn more about Lambda 10 Project, visit www.lambda10.org. For more about Campus Pride programs and services, please visit www.CampusPride.org or email info@campuspride.org.

Campus Pride Hosts Second Annual OUT & GREEK Conference for LGBT & Ally Fraternity & Sorority Members, Nov 19-22

Registration Open; Call for Workshop Presenters until Friday, September 25, 2009

Manhattan, KS, September 14 , 2009 – Campus Pride announced today the dates for the second annual Out & Greek conference designed for LGBT and ally college students and professionals involved in Greek life. The conference, which will take place November 19-22 at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, is the only conference of its kind for LGBT and ally fraternity and sorority members nationally. Registration now open along with call for workshop presenters online at http://www.lambda10.org/outandgreek.

Echoing the mission of Campus Pride's Lambda 10 educational initiative, the Out and Greek Conference aims to bring together lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and ally members of fraternities and sororities in an effort to foster dialogue and create safer, more LGBT-friendly learning environments at colleges and universities.

"Fraternities and sororities were once considered a primary source of homophobia on college campuses," said conference chair Chelsey Fritch who is also a member of Gamma Rho Lambda, one of the nations queer-inclusive sororities. "But now more than ever LGBT members of the Greek system are being open and honest about who we are. This conference hopes to provide an opportunity to enhance that dialogue, share tools and create further strategies for change."