Campus Pride cites suicide as sobering example of findings in the "2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People" released last week at a U.S. congressional briefing on Capitol Hill

(New Brunswick, NJ, Thurs, Sept 30, 2010) Campus Pride, the nation’s largest non-profit organization working with LGBT and ally college and university students, offers its condolences and support to the family of Tyler Clementi and the campus community of Rutgers University.

“Every college student should have the right to a safe campus climate -- void of intimidation and harassment -- for campus learning and living,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride. “The suicide of this young man is a terrible, unfathomable tragedy. We send our condolences to the family of Tyler Clementi and to the campus community of Rutgers University. We ask that all campuses across the country remember what happened at Rutgers and act decisively to curb anti-LGBT bias incidents, harassment and acts of violence.”

[Photo right: Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, who committed suicide after experiencing anti-gay harassment and cyber bullying from a college roommate.]

Through its Q Research Institute for Higher Education, Campus Pride released last week its "2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People." The in-depth research study is the most comprehensive national LGBT higher education study of its kind. Campus Pride surveyed more than 5,000 LGBT students,faculty and staff for the report. Findings demonstrate that this suicide and incidents of harassment are neither rare nor fleeting-- they are REAL.

Among the findings in the report:

• One quarter (23%) of LGBQ staff, faculty, and students reported experiencing harassment (defined as any conduct that has interfered with your ability to work or learn). Almost all identified sexual identity as the basis of the harassment (83%). An even greater percentage of transgender students, faculty, & staff reported experiencing harassment (39%) with 87% identifying their gender identity/expression as the basis for the harassment. The form of the harassment experiences by transgender people was more overt and blatant.
• One-third of LGBQ (33%) and transgender (38%) students, faculty, and staff have seriously considered leaving their institution due to thec hallenging climate.
• More than half of all faculty, students, & staff hide their sexual identity (43%) or gender identity (63%) to avoid intimidation.
• More than a third of all transgender students, faculty, &staff(43%) and 13% of LGBQ respondents feared for their physical safety.This finding was more salient for LGBQ students and for LGBQ and/or Transgender People of Color.

For more information about Campus Pride's "2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People" report, visit www.campuspride.org/research.

From ABC News....

Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi is believed dead, the result of a suicide after his college roommate video taped him having sex with another male student and broadcast it on the web.

Tyler's situation and the resulting tragedy are entirely preventable. Anti-bullying and harassment laws and policies, and other safe schools and campus climate initiatives as outlined in Campus Pride's 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People, are needed to keep LGBT students safe both on and off campus. Through the tragedy, Tyler's harrowing ordeal should serve as stark reminder and wake-up call.