Gustavus Adolphus College’s student-led groups Queers and Allies (Q&A) and the Campus Activities Board (CAB) will bring to campus singer and songwriter Ellis on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Courtyard Cafe (note the change in venue from the Dive). In conjunction with the concert, Q&A and CAB will premiere a video recently produced on campus in accord with the worldwide It Gets Better Project, which was created in response to recent LGBT teen suicides.
A native of Texas, Ellis moved to Minneapolis at age 16. She began her solo career performing the women’s/LGBT festival circuit in 2000. She is now a nationally touring singer, having released 7 albums in the past 16 years and independently selling more than 35,000 CDs. “She is such a fun performer,” says Nicole Meyer, Gustavus senior and co-president of Q&A. “She has this way about her that just engulfs the audience. It’s impossible not to have a good time at her concerts.”
The goal of the It Gets Better Project is to bring support to LGBT youth who may be experiencing hardship. The project was established in September 2010 by author and columnist Dan Savage and his partner. They created the first of what was to become a worldwide movement of YouTube videos, inspiring nearly 10,000 videos with more than 30 million views within its first 2 months. Videos have been submitted by celebrities, organizations, activists, and politicians, including President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Anne Hathaway, Google, Facebook, Pixar, and now, Gustavus Adolphus College.
“I know CAB is really happy to be a part of this event because it gives us a chance to demonstrate our support for the LGBT community,” says Gustavus senior and CAB co-president Lacey Squier. “It also gives us a chance to facilitate an event that is unique from anything else we’ve ever done.”
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