Early-bird discount registration is open until May 25; Scholarships and financial assistance are available until June 1, 2011

[Nashville, TN] – Campus Pride announced today the list of national speakers and artists to be featured at its fifth annual summer leadership camp, affectionately known as “Camp Pride.” Among the list is the nationally ranked slam poet Kit Yan who will be a featured entertainer for the second year sponsored by OUTmedia.

Kit can be seen on the HBO Documentary "Asians Aloud" and has received numerous accolades for his gender blending slam poetry from the lens of a transgender Asian American. Kit’s work has been featured coast to coast, from San Francisco State to Harvard. He has been seen speaking at the National Equality March, performing on the San Francisco Pride main stage, and Creating Change. Kit is also the reigning Mr. Transman 2010. This June Kit has been invited to the first-ever U.S. Department of Justice LGBT celebration titled "Justice Through Visibility". He has been seen on PBS’ Asian in America, MYX TV, Autostraddle, and has received glowing reviews from New York Magazine, Bitch Magazine, and Curve Magazine. To learn more about Kit, please visit http://www.kityanpoet.com/ and http://www.OUTmedia.org.

Camp Pride is the only leadership camp of its kind for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally college students from colleges and universities across the country. The camp will take place from July 19 to 24, 2011 and will be hosted on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. Registration is available online at http://www.CampusPride.org/CampPride. Early-bird discounted registration has been extended to May 25, 2011.

Keynote highlights will include Daniel Hernandez, Jr.,the young gay college student credited for saving U.S. Representative Gabriel Giffords life in Arizona shooting; 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; Shane Windmeyer, best-selling national author and Executive Director of Campus Pride; and Robyn Ochs, Bi-Activist, Trans Advocate & National Public Speaker.

In addition to Kit, other artists and entertainers booked for camp include nationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll; RuPaul's Drag Race season one winner Bebe Zahara Benet; 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.”

“Camp Pride has everything to offer a LGBT or straight ally college student – leadership development, life skills, social justice awareness, innovative strategies and resources to create change – and of course, friendships and fun for a lifetime,” said Lisa Simmons, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Towson University and one of the camp faculty members and planners. "Our 'A' list stands for 'amazing' -- because camp is all about making a difference with true representations of LGBT people and bringing visibility to our youth."

For over six months, Campus Pride has coordinated a faculty team of professional LGBT educators and activists to plan the camp. These individuals will also deliver the five-day curriculum of skill building in leadership development, social justice and civic involvement. Other camp highlights include a “Meet the Movement” panel with leaders from various LGBT and ally social justice advocates. This year an "Advisor Bootcamp" professional track for LGBT and ally student organization advisors, graduate students, faculty and staff has also been added to the camp experience.

Maximum attendance capacity is expected again this year. Any college student 18 years old or above may attend camp. Limited number of scholarships are available until June 1, 2011. If interested in attending the camp or being a sponsor, more information is available online at Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) or email [email protected].