Campus Pride Launches “Share Your Story” Campaign

LGBTQ+ students encouraged to share their personal stories to support ongoing visibility and advocacy work

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 25, 2023 — Campus Pride is launching a storytelling campaign for 2023 that centers the experiences of LGBTQ+ college students. Current students, recent alumni, and campus faculty and staff are encouraged to submit stories about their own experiences at campuspride.org/shareyourstory. 

“Sharing our stories has always been part of the fabric of Campus Pride,” said Campus Pride Founder, CEO and Executive Director Shane Mendez Windmeyer. “With this campaign, we are naming storytelling as a key strategy for movement building and inviting LGBTQ+ students to share the work that they are doing on campus and the challenges that they are facing.”

Stories are powerful advocacy tools. By providing a glimpse into the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ students, stories help others visualize and understand the realities of campus life. Compelling narratives can move allies to take action—and help to change the minds of people who have not thought of themselves as allies. At the same time, current and prospective college students can be empowered and emboldened when they see themselves reflected in the stories of their peers and recognize that they are part of a larger story and community of changemakers.

“The work these young leaders, advocates and activists are doing on their campuses and in their communities is vitally important—both for the current generation of college students and for those who will follow them,” said Windmeyer. “By sharing their stories, we want to lift up their efforts and honor the courage they exhibit by working for change in a climate where LGBTQ people are under attack on and off campus.”

One way Campus Pride is weaving storytelling into its work this year is by inviting Camp Pride alumni and guest speakers like Eureka O’Hara (from HBO’s Emmy Award-winning “We’re Here” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) to share their stories with attendees at Camp Pride, which will be held in Charlotte, N.C., July 12-16, 2023. Registration is open for both Camp Pride’s Student Leadership Academy and the Advisor Academy for advisors, faculty, staff, graduate students and other professionals who support LGBTQ+ college students. Campus Pride encourages anyone who is interested in attending to register soon at campuspride.org/camppride; the early registration discount has been extended through April 30 and a few scholarships remain available. 

The Share Your Story campaign is generously supported by Campus Pride’s ongoing partnership with Victoria’s Secret PINK. PINK has provided vital support for numerous Campus Pride projects since 2021, including funding scholarships for Camp Pride.

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ABOUT CAMPUS PRIDE

Since 2001, Campus Pride has been the leading national organization dedicated to building future LGBTQ and ally leaders and creating safer communities at colleges and universities. Learn more at CampusPride.org.