Atticus Circle Launches Four Week “CIRCLE UP YOUR CAMPUS”

Atticus Circle announces a four-week campaign, Circle up your Campus.

Starting today and running through Election Day 2009. The campaign is encouraging students, faculty and staff at colleges, universities and high schools to take part in activities and raise awareness around LGBT rights -- be it on-campus rallies, letter writing campaigns, voter registration campaigns, or public service volunteer efforts. “Last year’s Election Day brought a promise of sweeping change that inspired millions of Americans to not only vote, but to become involved in the political process,” said Jodie Eldridge, Executive Director of Atticus Circle. “This Election Day, we want to encourage LGBT allies to deliver on that promise of change, and raise awareness around the recent victories that have been won for LGBT right as well as the victories that still need to be won.” Though Circle Up Your Campus is designed to show the power of numbers with campus actions, Atticus Circle is encouraging schools to be creative with their actions, and design events that reflect what’s happening on their campuses. “We know that some schools are setting positive trends toward same-sex partner employee benefits, for instance, while LGBT individuals are teaming with straight allies to call for those types of benefits to support families at other schools,” Eldridge said. “We also know that some states have elections that will have immediate bearings on the future of LGBT rights there, and participants there will be focusing energies on those elections.” By wearing shirts that proclaim “gay? fine by me.” or “gay marriage? fine by me.” participants can easily and visibly show support for LGBT rights while engaging other students on campus.

Atticus Circle has used the Fine By Me shirts in previous campus-based campaigns raising awareness around LGBT rights. In fact, the Fine By Me campaign was initiated on a college campus (Duke University, in 2003) in order to foster greater support for LGBT individuals at that school. Atticus Circle encourages organizers at schools to contact and coordinate with its central office to be added to a growing list of national participants.