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.”

60+ college student leaders and advisors come together from across the United States;

National nonprofit for LGBT college youth plans to award at camp national leadership award to Daniel Hernandez Jr. and names annual "Campy" distinguished service awards and LGBT campus commitment honors.

Today Campus Pride kicks off its fifth annual Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp aptly called “Camp Pride.” The five day long leadership camp, the only national program of its kind, is geared toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and ally student leaders from colleges and universities across the United States. This year’s camp is hosted on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

The Camp Pride curriculum is based on the Social Change Model of Leadership Development and includes campus organizing techniques, conflict management, social justice advocacy, diversity education and more. In addition to the 60+ LGBT and ally young people, the camp also has a new Advisor’s Bootcamp to train individuals on how to support LGBT youth organizing and activism on campus.

This year Campus Pride will bestow its National Voice & Action Leadership Award to Daniel Hernandez, Jr., the student intern credited with saving the life of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) after the Jan. 8 shooting attack in Tucson, AZ. The award is the only honor of its kind, focused on the work of undergraduate college students who are creating positive change for LGBT and ally issues within their communities.

Campus Pride releases this statement today regarding the presence of ROTC programs on college campuses in the face of continued anti-transgender discrimination:

Campus Pride stands with organizations like the National Center for Transgender Equality and students at college campuses across the country who have raised awareness of continued discrimination against transgender people in the United States armed forces.

In his state of the union address, President Obama called on colleges and universities to reopen their campuses to ROTC programs now that the 1993 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law has been repealed. Though Campus Pride acknowledges the positive impact DADT repeal will have on our country and on the lives of untold numbers of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people currently serving in either the armed services or in ROTC programs, we must recognize that there are still others who are barred from serving their country openly and with integrity.

Students, faculty and staff at colleges and universities across the nation who truly value the equality and dignity of all their students are taking a continued stand to keep ROTC programs at bay until all Americans can serve. Campus Pride praises their efforts, leadership and vision.

More information:
"The job is not done: US military still discriminates", National Center for Transgender Equality, 1/25/2011
Joint Statement re: DADT and transgender people, SLDN and National Center for Transgender Equality, July 2010
"Obama to end ‘Don’t Ask’ this year", Washington Blade, 1/26/2011
"Despite Obama’s Call, No Rush in R.O.T.C.’s Return to Campus", New York Times, 1/27/2011