Good Asian Drivers

CHARLOTTE, NC; September 3, 2009 – Campus Pride (www.campuspride.org) and OUTmedia (www.outmedia.org) announced today a partnership to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and ally (LGBTQQIA) students and to promote visibility of out LGBTQQIA artists and entertainers at colleges and universities across the country. As part of the partnership, OUTmedia pledges to support Campus Pride programs and services with every dollar spent with booking this year.

OUTmedia has been key in Campus Pride’s growth and sustainability. This past July, Campus Pride honored OUTmedia’s founder and president Shelly Weiss with the first-ever Campy Award for “Distinguished Service to LGBT and Ally Youth.” As a result, Campus Pride encourages colleges and universities to invest in OUTmedia, a social enterprise that for 15 years has taken enormous risks, and devoted itself to being on the forefront of promoting queer visibility on US campuses, and that continually invests in LGBTQQIA youth.

“OUTmedia, for over a decade, has transformed campus communities with a diverse understanding and unparalleled vision for queer-affirming entertainment,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director and founder of Campus Pride. “OUTmedia believes in what we do and we appreciate this partnership to support our work across the country.”

OUTmedia was founded in 1994 as a queer cultural activist organization and social enterprise representing positive visibility for LGBTQQIA people through the arts. Based in New York City, OUTmedia promotes inclusive multiculturalism and is recognized as a global source for LGBT and queer-affirmative national acts and celebrity talent. OUTmedia is  deeply committed to the promotion of diversity within mainstream and LGBTQQIA culture, giving voice to African-American, Latino/a, Asian, Jewish, and women artists.  OUTmedia’s message of “Changing the World One Act at a Time” has led to queer culture being transported globally in the last year to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, the UK, Ireland, South Africa and India.

Campus Pride was founded in 2001 and is based in Charlotte, NC. Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization serving LGBT and ally college students and campus groups.

In addition to OUTmedia pledging support from bookings, the agency has sponsored the Campus Pride Summer Leadership Camp the past 3 years and plans to support for the second year the National Voice & Action Leadership Award.  OUTmedia gives the winners of the award a free artist or entertainer as a way to support the program. OUTmedia will also arrange for exclusive online interviews for the Campus Pride blog and online content to support LGBT students in their activism on campus.

“We have become a leading voice for queer arts and artists on college campuses, and joining with campus activists, we have transformed campus communities. We have, particularly, in our collaboration work with the Kinsey Sicks created something truly historic and lasting with a 2005 tour  “changing red states into rosy shades of purple” , reaching conservative, rural, and southern campuses, including Baptist Furman, Methodist Rhodes, and 80% Mormon Salt Lake City Community College” said Weiss. “We want to join you in moving queer culture from confinement at the margins to the campus core. We look to support your efforts in creating more tolerant and accepting campus communities. Remember to mention Campus Pride when you call to book your talent on campus – support us in giving back to you.”

For more information about Campus Pride programs and services, please visit Campus Pride online at www.campuspride.org or interact with other students on the Campus Pride blog atwww.campusprideblog.org.

OUTmedia is a leading queer cultural activist organization and social enterprise. Our mission is to increase the positive visibility of LGBTQQIA people and promote inclusive multiculturalism through the arts. To support that mission, OUTmedia has become a leading global source for LGBT and queer-affirmative national acts and celebrity talent. More info online atwww.outmedia.org/more.htm.

Campus Pride is the leading national nonprofit organization 501(c)(3) for student leaders and campus organizations working to create safer, more LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. It exists to give “voice and action” in building future LGBT and ally leaders. More info online atwww.campuspride.org.