Powerful new film, ‘Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation,’ documents stories of LGBT young adult leaders fighting for equality and change

A special hometown premiere...

Campus Pride is proud to present a special "Legalize Gay" screening in Charlotte, where the organization is proudly based. Join us for two special screenings in Charlotte:

Feb. 9, 7 p.m.
Petra’s
1919 Commonwealth Ave.
Charlotte, NC, 28205

Feb. 11, 2 p.m.
LGBT Community Center
820 Hamilton St., Suite B11
Charlotte, NC, 28206

At both screenings, local LGBT community leaders, including newly-elected Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield, will participate in a panel discussion and Q&A following the film.

“Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation,” a documentary film set to debut in May on the national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) TV network LOGO, is currently making special, advanced screenings to LGBT and ally audiences across the country.

Campus Pride and its student and young leaders are featured in the documentary, an incredibly inspiring film that captures the courage and conviction of a new generation of activists determined to close the deal on full equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

The film’s director, Christopher Hines, has partnered with Campus Pride to provide special preview screenings of the films, including upcoming screenings at the Midwest LGBT College Conference at Iowa State University in Aimes, Iowa, on Feb. 10, and at the Campus Pride Carolinas Young Adult Leadership Summit at the Human Rights Campaign Carolina Gala in Charlotte, N.C., on Feb. 24.

“Campus Pride is already doing so much in the struggle for LGBT equality at universities and colleges across the country. I hope ‘Legalize Gay’ can help in that effort,” Hines said. “The young people in the film are so inspiring.”

“’Legalize Gay’ is not only thought-provoking and inspirational, but very entertaining,” said Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer.

Featured in the film is “Camp Pride,” an annual event sponsored by Campus Pride, aimed at giving a new generation of LGBT activists the skills and support they need to flourish at their universities and colleges.

“It was so much fun and impressive to film such a diverse group of young people working together for a common cause – equality,” Hines said. “I hope we can get hundreds of students attending Camp Pride every year.”

A portion of each of the preview screening booking fees will help to provide scholarships for students to attend Camp Pride, held July 17-22, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn. Students can apply for Camp Pride scholarships at www.CampusPride.org/CampPride.

Current National Screening Dates:
Sun., Jan. 29 -- Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Thurs., Feb. 9 & Sat, Feb 11-- Community Screening, Charlotte, NC
Fri., Feb. 10 -- Midwest LGBT College Conference, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Fri., Feb. 24 -- Carolinas LGBT College Summit, Charlotte, NC
Fri., Feb. 24 -- Western LGBT College Conference, Univ Pacific, Stockton, CA
Sat., Feb. 25 -- University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Thurs., March 8 -- Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Fri., March 30 -- NorthEast LGBT College Conference, Sage College, Troy, NY
Wed., April 4 -- Lock Haven University of PA, Lockhaven, PA
Tues., April 17 -- CSU Chico, Chico, CA

For more information on booking a special advance screening of the film, visit www.CampusPride.org/LegalizeGay. Advance screenings cost $500.

Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation

Part of Proceeds benefit Camp Pride for LGBT Youth Activism; Schedule Your Screening of "Legalize Gay"

November 29, 2011 -- Campus Pride is offering a special opportunity to preview an incredibly inspiring film that captures the courage and conviction of a new generation of activists determined to close the deal on full equality for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Director Christopher Hines has just completed a new film “Legalize Gay - The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation,” set to premiere on Logo later next year. However, Hines has joined with Campus Pride for exclusive advanced screenings, accompanied by an educational guide designed by Campus Pride to encourage more activism in the campaign for LGBT equality.

“Campus Pride is already doing so much in the struggle for LGBT equality at universities and colleges across the country. I hope “Legalize Gay” can help in that effort,” Hines said. “The young people in the film are so inspiring.”

Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer said “Legalize Gay” is “not only though-provoking and inspirational, but very entertaining.”

“We are very fortunate to have this opportunity to preview the film,” Windmeyer said. “It will definitely promote a lot of discussion on campus.”

Also featured in the film is “Camp Pride,” an annual event sponsored by Campus Pride, aimed at giving a new generation of LGBT activists the skills and support they need to flourish at their universities and colleges.

“It was so much fun and impressive to film such a diverse group of young people working together for a common cause - equality,” Hines said. “I hope we can get hundreds of students attending Camp Pride every year.”

The shootings of a congresswoman, her staff, a federal judge and community members in Arizona has shocked the nation. Though a suspect is in custody, questions linger: Who is Jared Lee Loughner? Why did he do it? Was it politically- or racially-motivated?

Despite those uncertainties and unanswered questions, as in most situations like these, we see a bright glimmer of hope that even in dangerous and risky times everyday people can stand up, make a difference, save lives and become true heroes.

That's the case with 20-year-old Daniel Hernandez, an intern with Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' office. With the congresswoman on the day of the shooting, Daniel sprang into action once he heard gunshots. With training as a CNA, Daniel rushed to victims who he saw on the ground, checked their pulse and moved onto others with more serious injuries. Finally, he came to the Rep. Giffords. He sat her up, applied pressure to her head wound and stayed with her all the way to the hospital.

And, in all the resulting media coverage and Daniel's several appearances on national cable news networks, a stunning piece of information has been lost upon mainstream media audiences. Daniel, a junior at the University of Arizona, is gay.

Though LGBT Americans are chastised, castigated and scapegoated through law, religion, culture and society, we're still here. We still serve. We still save lives and inspire hope. Daniel did that on Jan. 8, and he deserves -- just like the millions more LGBT Americans serving in second-class citizenship -- the honor and recognition of performing an act of true service, courage, conviction and strength.

It's in times like these we can all take a collective pause and reflect upon the ideals and values of our society, the types of political and religious rhetoric we use, the place of true equality and dignity in law, and the way we treat some citizens despite their selfless heroism and devotion to their fellow citizens and humankind.

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!