Steve Barcus
Originally published on STATEside
Illinois State University will host the 2015 Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) February 13–15. The three-day conference is expected to draw 2,700 attendees from 13 states to educate and unify the LGBTQIA community in an open and welcoming environment.
Senior social work major Robert Alberts is leading 20 of his peers in planning and executing this massive event. STATEside caught up with Roberts to get an inside look at the conference.
What is the MBLGTACC?
Alberts: For any student in the minority demographic, they are always the “other” student. They’re always “that one LGBT student.” They’re always “that one student of color in the classroom.” So you’re always “othered” no matter where you go. It’s not anything that forces you to feel insecure or unsafe, but it definitely weighs on you.
Walking into this environment and knowing that while people may identify differently than you, they’re all a part of the same community is one of the most incredible feelings. You feel like you have a sense of purpose and you belong. And you don’t feel worried that you’re going to be this other person because you’re standing in a group of people who have so much in common with you. So it’s empowering to stand there and know that all of these people are there not only to learn but also to form a community.
Read more about Alberts and the conference on Illinois State’s daily blog STATEside, at http://stories.illinoisstate.edu/magazine/illinois-state/state-side/qa-big-lgbt-conferences-student-leader/.
To learn more about the MBLGTACC or to register, visit www.mblgtacc2015.org. Volunteer opportunities are still available. Learn more on the conference website.