“This significant step forward in the Human Rights Campaign’s HBCU Program creates exciting new opportunities for campus leaders to engage more deeply on the issues of LGBTQ inclusion and equity,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “By expanding the scope of this important program, we will be able to reach more students, faculty and administrators than ever before, giving them the tools they need to make real and lasting change. We look forward to continuing our partnership with these storied institutions, and supporting the next generation of Black leaders.”

“For more than a decade, HRC’s HBCU Program has been working with campus leaders -- from students and administrators to staff and faculty -- to support and uplift LGBTQ people on campuses by creating and partnering in developing inclusive programming. We couldn’t be more excited to expand our work through this historic series of LGBTQ leadership summits,” said Leslie Hall, Director of HRC’s HBCU Program. “By engaging students, administrators, staff and faculty on their home turf, we hope to move the needle for LGBTQ inclusion and equity on HBCU campuses by shaping the way these important institutions provide support, services and resources to all of their students.”

In launching this series of on-campus events, HRC’s HBCU Program is taking an aggressive step to expand the work that it has been doing for more than a decade through its national annual summit for LGBTQ student leaders from HBCUs. The national five-day summit, which will take place November 7-12 at HRC’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been the only leadership development and advocacy training program that empowers LGBTQ HBCU students to act as change agents on their campuses and in their communities. Its model of assuring that participating students leave with the skills and competencies to lead effectively through the intersections of race, religion, gender identity and expression, class and sexual orientation is being replicated in the new series of on-campus summits.

Participants will hear from expert facilitators on a variety of topics including action planning, health equity and disparities for LGBTQ Black and African American youth.

The HRC Foundation’s HBCU Program mobilizes and supports HBCUs in enhancing policies and services that promote excellence in LGBTQ inclusion, equity and engagement. The program focuses on promoting individual competencies and collective action, empowering leaders and stakeholders and building a network of committed leaders in pursuit of eliminating stigma and enriching the college experience for LGBTQ students and the entire student body.

HRC’s HBCU Program was founded to support LGBTQ students at HBCUs by providing resources and trainings to advance affirming and supportive college campuses. The program is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation. For more information about HRC’s HBCU Project, visit http://www.hrc.org/hbcu.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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