In early 2008, the Pride Center of Western New York brought together local college campus student leaders and gay-straight alliances (GSA) to design a new program: Pride University. Organized by the Pride Center under its Pride Youth program, Pride University allows LGBT students and allies an opportunity to discuss issues that they face as both individuals and as members of on-campus student organizations. Pride U includes students from seven local universities and colleges from across Western New York ranging in size and geographic area.

These meetings allow students to share information, including: recruiting and maintaining members, advocating for LGBT rights on campus and within their community, and creating safe-space programs on their individual campuses. Participants of Pride U have organized multi-campus events as well as attended events held by fellow groups to show support and increase visibility of LGBT presence on all campuses.

Pride U not only encourages leadership on campus but in the community at large through its youth leadership development opportunities, participation in Empire State Pride Agenda’s Equality and Justice Day, and LGBT advocacy training given by the Pride Center and its partners. As part of each monthly meeting, the Pride Center provides a special guest speaker on issues to help foster leadership skills and community activism amongst Pride U members. Pride U also gives members an opportunity to get to know one another through social activities and events such as camping trips, movie nights, and game nights.

For more information on Pride University, please contact Traci, the Pride Center’s youth services coordinator, at 852-PRIDE or visit us online at pridecenterwny.org.

­—bryan whitley-grassi