More than 30 students from nine Carolinas colleges and universities will engage in training and development on campus organizing techniques, social justice advocacy and more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – More than 30 students from nine colleges and universities across North Carolina and South Carolina will gather in the Queen City Friday, Feb. 24-Saturday, Feb. 25 for a special Campus Pride Young Adult Carolinas Leadership Summit in conjunction with this weekend’s Human Rights Campaign Carolina Gala.

“We are fortunate to be able to host these student leaders in Charlotte,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride. “Young people are already taking the lead on such important matters as the upcoming vote on North Carolina’s anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment. It is essential to support students and young people in their endeavors to create safer and more inclusive schools and communities for their peers and for future generations.”

Members of the community and the media are invited to attend a special Young Adult Leader Panel Discussion at the Aloft Hotel at the Epicentre. Students will discuss their experiences on their campuses, their thoughts about the movement for LGBT equality and their plans for creating change on their campuses, in Charlotte and across the Carolinas.

WHAT: LGBT Young Adult Leader Panel Discussion, in conjunction with the Campus Pride and Human Rights Campaign Young Adult Carolinas Leadership Summit
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 25, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Aloft Hotel at the Epicentre, Tactic Room Two, 210 E.Trade St., Charlotte, NC, 28202
On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/179828332126123/

Based in Charlotte, Campus Pride is the nation’s only non-profit organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders working to create safer campus environments. Campus Pride’s national programs and services include national benchmark and assessment tool Campus Climate Index (www.campusclimateindex.org), national hate crime prevention training program Stop The Hate (www.stophate.org) and the annual Camp Pride Summer Leadership Program (www.campuspride.org/camppride/), slated this year for Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., July 17-22.

The Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than one million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, HRC envisions an America where LGBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. Founded in 1980, HRC currently has more than 1 million members and supporters, including more than 23,000 in North Carolina. For more information, visit www.hrc.org.

For more information and to purchase 2012 HRC North Carolina Gala tickets for Feb. 25, visit www.hrccarolina.org. Tickets are $225 per person; Federal Club Member tickets are $75; student and senior (65 and older) are $95.

MEDIA CONTACT: Matt Comer, Communications & Program Director, 704-625-6449, [email protected]