60+ college student leaders and advisors come together from across the United States;

National nonprofit for LGBT college youth plans to award at camp national leadership award to Daniel Hernandez Jr. and names annual "Campy" distinguished service awards and LGBT campus commitment honors.

Today Campus Pride kicks off its fifth annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp aptly called “Camp Pride.” The five day long leadership camp, the only national program of its kind, is geared toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders from colleges and universities across the United States. This year’s camp is hosted on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

The Camp Pride curriculum is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership Development and includes campus organizing techniques, conflict management, social justice advocacy, diversity education and more. In addition to the 60+ LGBT and ally young people, the camp also has a new Advisor’s Bootcamp to train individuals on how to support LGBT youth organizing and activism on campus.

This year Campus Pride will bestow its National Voice & Action Leadership Award to Daniel Hernandez, Jr., the student intern credited with saving the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) after the Jan. 8 shooting attack in Tucson, AZ. The award is the only honor of its kind, focused on the work of undergraduate college students who are creating positive change for LGBT and ally issues within their communities.

Campus Pride will also award its distinguished service award, the “Campy” to recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated outstanding service and contributions to Campus Pride. This summer Mara Kiessling of the National Center for Transgender Equality and Pete Bonneau of Food Lion as well as Campus Pride Board Member will receive a Campy recognizing their unique roles supporting the Campus Pride mission to give “voice and action” to LGBT and ally youth. In addition, two longstanding Campus Pride volunteers will be recognized for their ongoing support of camp: Marcia “Ma” Purdy and Asher Wickell. Old Dominion University and University at Albany will also be recognized with the “Campus Pride Commitment to LGBT Leadership Award” for sending students to camp for all five years. Bridgewater State University and Columbia College will be recognized for four years and California University of Pennsylvania, Eastern Michigan University, Saint Mary’s College, Towson University, Tulane University, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and Wichita State University will be recognized for three years.

Keynote highlights include Bleu Copas, an Arabic translator discharged in 2006 from the U.S. Army under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell; T. J. Jourian, as seen on Logo’s show “TransGeneration,” Mara Kiessling, President of the National Center for Transgender Equality; Phillip Burse, diversity speaker from In Our Own Voices; Shane Windmeyer, best-selling national author and Executive Director of Campus Pride; and Robyn Ochs, Bi-Activist, Trans Advocate & National Public Speaker.
Artists and entertainers booked for camp include RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Bebe Zahara Benet,nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll; Asian, transgender spoken word sensation Kit Yan; actress and comedian Gina Rodgers and southern camp drag diva Buff Faye among others. The final night of camp turns the spotlight on the campers with the “No Talent Required Talent Show.”

If interested in learning more about Campus Pride or Camp Pride, go online to www.campuspride.org or email [email protected].