Over 75 Colleges & Universities Come Out of the Closet for Gay Youth at Campus Pride LGBT-Friendly College Fairs 07-08

Campus Pride College Fair 07-08What do Princeton University, Emory University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California and University of Utah have in common? Well, they all want to recruit out lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. These are just a few of the top colleges who came out of the closet this year at the Campus Pride LGBT-Friendly College Fairs.

Campus Pride hosted two fairs this past 2007-08 academic year. The first was December 1 at University of Pennsylvania and the second was on April 11 at University of California, San Diego. Both fairs were deemed a success based on the attendance of colleges and the growing interest witnessed from LGBT and ally youth in both areas of the country. Plans are well-underway for three fairs (an additional one in Minnesotta for Midwest colleges) this upcoming 2008-09 academic year.

What is significant about the Campus Pride fairs is that finally colleges are coming out of the closet and being visible in the recruitment process to seek LGBT students. Colleges have long done this for other populations (athletes, interenation students, ethnic/minority students, etc) but have never focused specifically on LGBT and ally youth in this way. Even the nations top colleges realize that being LGBT-friendly is not only in the best interest of enrolment figures but also a necessity to prepare for a smaller, more diverse student population in the future.

Campus Pride has seen increasing number of colleges and universities openly recruiting LGBT students and are doing so for the first time ever. Nearly seventy-five colleges registered to attend both college fairs this past year. In addition, over 150 colleges and universities are reaching out to LGBT students through the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index (www.campusclimateindex.org) The national index, the only resource of its kind, is a dynamic online tool which rates LGBT-friendliness at colleges and universities as well as sets a national benchmark for campuses to become safer, more welcoming for LGBT and ally people. Any campus may take part in the index to be listed online at anytime.

Campus Pride developed the College Admission Fairs and the online LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index as active ways for campuses to be out and proud in attracting LGBT student populations. The efforts also provide an outlet for campuses to increase enrollment with a seemingly "untapped" population. Isabel Galupo, a high school senior in Towson, Maryland who attended the first LGBT-friendly college fair this past December, said, “It was great to have my first college fair be one where I could ask important questions about myself as someone from the LGBT community. This type of college fair was also very important for me as I have two moms – I want to be at a college where I can feel comfortable about my family.”Campus Pride College Fair 07-08

Organizing partners and supporters for the upcoming fair include national and local chapters of organizations such as the Western Association for College Admissions Counseling, the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Parents, Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Point Foundation. For more details, please visit www.campusclimateindex.org/events or contact Campus Pride at 704-277-6710 or info@campuspride.org.

I look back on this past year and the LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index (www.campusclimateindex.org) and the Campus Pride fairs are, by far, one of the most significant contributions impacting LGBT and ally youth and future work on college campuses.

Think, Act, Enjoy!