Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender college students from across the country will come to Towson University this summer for a leadership camp sponsored by Campus Pride, a national nonprofit group.

About 60 students are expected to enroll in the camp, where they will learn how to advocate for a more gay-friendly campus.

“We will spend some time talking about envisioning how they want their campus to look when they go back,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride.

Towson University was a natural choice for the camp’s location because it’s close to D.C., Windemeyer said. Also, the college has an active Queer Student Union, and, according to school officials, was the first university in Maryland to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies as a legitimate academic field.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“[The camp] will be a fun way to build relationships with other activists and leaders like me,” said Towson University student leader Lauren Kaplowitz, who will intern at the camp.

Campers will discuss campus policy, such as whether gender identity expression is included in nondiscrimination rules or whether freshmen and transfer students are given the option of picking a gay-friendly roommate.

They also will meet with national LGBT leaders in D.C.

Registration will cost $530 before June 15, but scholarships are available to help campers who are unable to pay the full camp registration fee.

Steve Charing, a spokesman for Center Maryland PFLAG, or Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, said the camp will be a valuable asset to college students.

“It’s a far more accepting generation of kids that are coming through college, but there are still unifying problems,” Charing said.

mmcilroy@baltimoreexaminer.com