CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and ally college students, has joined with the Outsports.com today in calling for immediate action to end the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games as well as involvement by NCAA, ACC, SEC and ESPN and the participating colleges - University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, University of Florida, Florida State, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State, University of Maryland, University of Miami, Mississippi State, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh University, University of South Carolina, Syracuse University, University of Tennessee, Texas A&M University, Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wake Forest University.

Campus Pride supports these specific actions:

• Atlanta Chamber of Commerce should remove the Chick-fil-A name from the Bowl and the Kickoff Games.
• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) should end their relationship with the Bowl game.
• Participating schools involved with the Bowl game should withdraw from this year’s Kickoff Games.
• ESPN should not broadcast the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Kickoff Games.
• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) should stop all monetary support of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
• Bowl Championship Series (BCS) commissioners and presidents should not even accept a bid from the Chick-fil-A Bowl to host the impending college football playoff games starting in 2014.

Campus Pride issued this statement today:

Capitol Hill briefing, Thursday, Sept. 23

Tomorrow, Campus Pride will join Campus Progress and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus for a special Capitol Hill briefing on our new report, The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People.

Date: Thursday, September 23, 2010
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Place: Capitol Visitor Center, Room 215
United States Capitol
E Capitol NE & 1st St NW
Washington, DC 20001

Members of the press must RSVP to attend this event. To RSVP, contact Katie Andriulli at [email protected] or 202-481-8238.

To receive information on the report or speak to experts, please contact Campus Pride at [email protected] or 704-277-6710.

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The Good and the Very Bad

The Advocate, Sept. 20, 2010
Campus Pride's Shane L. Windmeyer says his organization's State of Higher Education for LGBT People report finally gives a voice to the experiences of LGBT student, faculty, and staff. Read more...

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Study Reveals High Level of Hardships for LGBT Students, Faculty & Staff at U.S. Colleges & Universities

GLAAD Blog, Sept. 21, 2010
In The 2010 State of Higher Education for LGBT People, a landmark research study being released today, it is revealed that one-third of LGBT students, faculty, and staff seriously consider leaving institutions of higher learning due to a climate that interferes with their ability to successfully work, live, and learn on campus. Read more...

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LGBT harassment increases on campuses nationwide, survey finds

The Daily Free Press, Boston University, Sept. 22, 2010
About one-quarter of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and university employees have been harassed on college campuses across the country because of their sexual orientations, according to a new survey. Read more...

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Virginia Tech LGBT campus climate reviewed

Collegiate Times, Virginia Tech, Sept. 21, 2010
Virginia Tech’s campus climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students was under review Tuesday as advocacy group Equality Virginia stopped in Blacksburg to discuss campus policies. ... Tech earned 3.5 out of five stars in the Campus Climate Index, a ranking system developed by Campus Pride, a national LGBT organization. The index ranks college campuses on the quality of life provided for LGBT students and helps set standards for LGBT-friendly policies. Read more...

The chair of Equality Virginia is taking issue with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's decision to appoint an anti-gay Roanoke lawyer to the board of Virginia Tech early this month.

Attorney John Rocovich has previously served on VA Tech's board, and as rector led board members to rescind its commitment to affirmative action and prohibitions against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

"Equality Virginia is disappointed that the Governor would look to the past in making board appointments and choose to reappoint John Rocovich to the Virginia Tech board," Equality Virginia chairman Mark Board said in a statement July 1. "During Mr. Rocovich's tenure as Rector of the VA Tech Board in 2003, he led the board to revoke the University's commitment to affirmative action and to repeal the University's prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation. When his term expired, Governor Warner replaced him on the Board, and the new board reversed these actions. Given this past history, the Governor's decision to reappoint Mr. Rocovich to the Tech Board sends a negative message to the Hokie nation about the sincerity of the Governor's commitment to the enforcement of his executive directive #1 and his commitment to ensure Tech's GLBT employees and students are protected from discrimination."

McDonnell spokesperson Stacey Johnson told The Washington Post's Rosalind Helderman, "The governor has appointed a diverse group of Virginia leaders to these positions. Mr. Rocovich is a leader in the business and education community. The governor believes this makes him an excellent choice to serve the Commonwealth and Virginia Tech on its board of visitors."