Former rugby star Ben Cohen is taking his gay rights advocacy a step further with the creation of an antibullying organization called the StandUp Foundation.

Regarding the collaboration with Campus Pride, Cohen said in a statement, "We are proud to partner with Campus Pride. They have a long, successful track record of working with educators and students to make campuses more inclusive for and accepting of LGBT people. Raising awareness of and funds for their tireless, on-the-ground work is very important to all of us here at the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE FROM THE ADVOCATE: Learn more and WATCH THE VIDEO online at THE ADVOCATE

REGISTER FOR ANY WEBINAR IN THE CAMPUS PRIDE SERIES & HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A FREE REGISTRATION ($795 value) FOR YOUR COLLEGE TO ATTEND THE CAMPUS PRIDE SUMMER LEADERSHIP CAMP IN JULY 2011.

CAMPUS PRIDE SERIES :: LIFEGUARD: Suicide Prevention on College Campuses

REGISTER NOW

WHEN: Wednesday, April 6 :: 3 p.m. EST
WHO: Meg Ten Eyck, The Trevor Project & Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride
COST: $95 per site

Campus Pride joins with The Trevor Project to bring student leaders, faculty and staff a webinar on suicide among LGBT and questioning youth and the different environmental stressors that contribute to a heightened risk for suicide. Based on the Trevor Project's LIFEGUARD program, this webinar will focus on college campus communities and the impact of language, actions, and bullying/harassment on LGBT young people. Participants will leave with specific actions on how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and how to best respond as lifeguards on campus. A particular emphasis will be placed on best practices and experience to better work with LGBT youth populations. Presenters will also share programs and resources to support suicide prevention work from both national organizations -- Campus Pride and The Trevor Project.

About The Trevor Project:
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. More info online at www.thetrevorproject.org

In the wake of two college suicides Tyler Clementi of Rutgers University& Raymond Chase of Johnson & Wales, Campus Pride reissues findings and recommendations from the "2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People" released last week at a U.S. congressional briefing on Capitol Hill

(Providence, RI) Campus Pride, the nation’s leading non-profit organization working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college and university students, offers its condolences and support to the family of Raymond Chase who reportedly hung himself in his residence hall room this past Wednesday, September 29, 2010 on the campus of Johnson & Wales in Providence, RI.

“The loss of Raymond this week is the second college LGBT-related suicide in a week and the fifth teenage LGBT suicide in three weeks. The suicide of this openly gay young man is for reasons currently unknown; however, the recent pattern of LGBT youth suicides is cause for grave concern,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride. “Campus Pride demands national action be taken to address youth bullying, harassment and the need for safety and inclusion for LGBT youth at colleges and universities across the country. We must not let these tragic deaths go unnoticed. Together we must act decisively to curb anti-LGBT bias incidents, harassment and acts of violence.”

George Aumoithe, Jr. of Bowdoin College and Stephen Lucas of Penn State chosen for national LGBT honor recognizing extraordinary contributions

(Charlotte, NC, February, 15, 2010) -- Campus Pride (www.CampusPride.org) recognizes George Aumoithe, Jr. of Bowdoin College (Class of 2011) and Stephen Lucas from Pennsylvania State University (Class of 2010) with the 2010 National Voice & Action Leadership Award. The annual honorary recognition is the only one of its kind focused nationally on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college students. Every year the award is bestowed upon young adults who have made extraordinary contributions as LGBT and ally leaders at colleges and universities across the United States.

“Campus Pride created the Voice & Action National Leadership Award to showcase the amazing work and commitment by young adult leaders in our movement for fairness and equality. Indeed, both George and Stephen exemplify this award and Campus Pride honors both of them and all the outstanding leaders who applied this year,” Christopher Bylone, Campus Pride volunteer program coordinator, said.

Should it matter who I love?

Contributed by Elizandra Martinez, President of Eros (Gay-Straight Alliance) and Active Minds (Mental Health Advocacy) at
Regis University, Denver, CO

Dominique de Menil said, “What should move us to action is human dignity: the inalienable dignity of the oppressed, but also the dignity of each of us. We lose dignity if we tolerate the intolerable.”

My senior year in high school started strong. I was captain for varsity athletics in basketball and soccer and was looking to lead my teams further than the previous seasons. I also had the opportunity to serve my school as Student Body President, and I was tied for first academically in my class. My senior year all changed in the matter of months. Many can’t wait until their 18th birthday, but I was one of those who were dreading it. After that day, my life would be forever changed. Now that I was considered an adult, the parents of the girl that I was in a relationship with now had the law on their side. Her parents took the matter to the school and told the administrators that we were not allowed to have contact. We happened to be on the same basketball team, so of course we would talk. After we had contact the administration told me that I disobeyed authority. Over the course of the next two months I was suspended from school, got kicked off my sports teams, had a suicide attempt and spent a night in jail due to a mutual restraining order violation (which was dismissed), all because I was a lesbian. Then the school took my responsibilities of student body president away they said, “we cannot have someone like you leading our school.”

I am not alone in experiencing a desire to die from the pain that intolerance causes.

Did you know?