Upcoming screenings...

Purdue University
West Lafayette, Ind.
April 14, 4:35 p.m.
Wetherill Chemistry Bldg Rm 200
www.noglstp.net/purdue/

CSU Chico
Chico, Calif.
April 17
www.csuchico.edu/housing/events/...

N.C. State University
Raleigh, N.C.
April 17, 7 p.m.
Erdahl Cloyd Auditorium
DH Hill Library
facebook.com/events/331045010282464/

University of Louisiana Lafayette
Lafayette, La.
April 19, 7 p.m.
UL Student Union
Bayou Bijou Theatre

North Dakota GLBTQA Conference
Grand Forks, N.D.
April 20, 8 p.m.
www.ndglbtqa.org

The new documentary by Christopher Hines, "Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation," has been taking campuses across the nation by storm this spring.

The film sheds new light on the continued movement for LGBT equality and justice, highlighting 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 trend continues this weekend and next week, with special preview screenings of the film planned at several major universities and regional schools across the country. Purdue University in Indiana shows the film this weekend. North Carolina State University will preview the film on Tuesday.

The film’s director, Christopher Hines, has partnered with Campus Pride to provide special preview screenings of the films in advance of its May 5 premiere on the LGBT TV network LOGO.

“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.”

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.

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.

For more information on booking a special advance screening of the film, visit www.CampusPride.org/LegalizeGay. Advance screenings cost $500. Special screenings for campuses will also be offered after the film's TV debut.

Throughout this new year, Campus Pride has been pleased to partner with director Christopher Hines in offering his new documentary, "Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation," to schools, colleges and universities, conferences and other community groups for special preview screenings before its national debut on the LGBT TV network Logo.

This month brings a bevy of new advance screenings across the U.S., including:

Today! March 8, 2012
Wichita State University, Wichita, Kan.
6 p.m., Room 223 Rhatigan Student Center
More details...

Saturday, March 24, 2012
Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.
1:10 p.m., Roan Mountain Room, Plemmons Student Union
More details...

Friday, March 30, 2012
Northeast LGBT College Conference
Sage College, Troy, N.Y.
More info...

Friday, March 30, 2012
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.
7 p.m., Prarie Pride Film Festival
More info...

Other upcoming screenings in April include University of Wisconsin-OshKosh (April 2), Lock Haven University in Lockhaven, Penn. (April 4), CSU Chico in Chico, Calif. (April 17) and North Dakota GLBTQA Conference in Grand Forks, N.D. (April 20)

Your campus can still book special screenings! Click here to learn more about the film, it's director, Christopher Hines, and how to book a screening.

Many thanks are in order to so many fabulous people who made Campus Pride's special, preview screenings of the new documentary by Christopher Hines, "Legalize Gay: The Civil Rights Movement of a Generation," possible last week and over the weekend.

(Photo right: Community members participate in an after-film Q&A and panel discussion at Petra's, where Race to the Ballot was also present to film as they move across North Carolina in their quest to defeat the state's anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment.)

First and foremost, thank you to our sponsors, who gave generously to ensure the film could be screened at Petra's and the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Thank you to the GayCharlotte Film Festival and Series, Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, Robert Dogens, Prism Properties, Mike Hemlepp, Human Rights Campaign, Time Out Youth, Pocket Rocket Charlotte, VisitGayCharlotte.com and Takeover Friday.

A big hug, smile and thank you is also owed to Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield, our fabulous host for the after-film Q&A and panel discussion at both screenings.

Last but not least, we want to thank all of the panelists who came out to share their thoughts, knowledge and experience, including UNC Charlotte senior Paul Willoughby, recent Winthrop University graduate Alyssa Kibiloski, MeckPAC's Scott Bishop, Carolina Trans Society's Lacy Beatty, Human Rights Campaign's Robert Dogens and Dan Mauney, Time Out Youth's Rodney Tucker, Jen Jones of Equality NC/Race to the Ballot and Campus Pride's Shane Windmeyer and Matt Comer.

Personal reconciliation turns to action for two young leaders in Charlotte, N.C.

Paul Willoughby, a senior at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNCC), remembers well the hardships cast upon him and his family when his twin brother came out of the closet.

"That was the worst time in my life, for real," Willoughby says of the summer between his junior and senior years in high school.

Unbeknownst to all but him, he, too, was gay -- a revelation he dared not disclose in the face of his parents' conservative, religious leanings and their treatment of his brother.

"My parents said a lot of mean things, calling [my brother] names they shouldn't be calling him," Willoughby recalls. "It was hard to see how my parents reacted to him coming out -- they even tried to send him to therapy to try to change him. Here I am -- I'm gay, too -- and I didn't know what to do. I was terrified that they would find out."

Now 21 years old, Willoughby is a member of the UNCC men's soccer team. Just last fall, he came out to friends on campus and to friends on his sports team.

Read the rest of this article after the jump...

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.”