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CHRIS JOHNSON
Friday, July 25, 2008
College students from across the country eager to start careers as activists descended on Washington this week as part of an intercollegiate gay group’s annual leadership camp.
Campus Pride, the organization putting the camp together, arranged for students to listen to panel discussions and meet with national gay activist leaders.
About 60 students from 50 colleges and universities participated. Attendees stayed at Towson University in Towson, Md., from Saturday to Thursday and toured Washington Monday.
The event was the second annual leadership camp for Campus Pride.
Shane Windemeyer, executive director for the organization, said Campus Pride hosted the camp to “empower and enlighten” young leaders.
“The lessons learned and lifelong friendships developed at camp are the most valuable way to invest in the future of our movement,” he said.
Students heard from activists such as Donna Rose, a national civil rights leader and transgender advocate, and saw entertainers such as gay singers Jason and DeMarco.
Cornell Woodson, a gay 21-year-old senior from Ithaca College, said he participated in the camp to become more informed about issues affecting the gay community.
“As a gay male, I find it important to be up on all the different issues and all the different policies that are being talked about,” he said.
Woodson intends to work for Teach for America upon graduation.
Micah Perkins, a 23-year-old transgender student from Missouri State University, said he attended the camp to meet other activists and improve his leadership skills.
“I’ve heard a lot about this camp from other activists around the country and I wanted to see what we could learn here,” he said.
Perkins intends to pursue a job supporting gay youth following graduation.
Adrian Herrera, a gay 22-year-old senior from California Polytechnic State University, participated in the camp last year and wanted to attend again to help facilitate the activities.
The student said he wanted to assist in Campus Pride’s mission of “providing a national presence for leadership development for LGBT leaders.”
After his studies are complete, Herrera intends to apply for engineering work in the Coast Guard.
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