Midwest LGBT Conference Hits Columbia Campus Friday

By Joseph Erbentraut in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 10, 2010 8:30PM

Feeling annoyed at the lack of progress for LGBT-centric legislation such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and same-sex marriage in Washington? Energized by the first legal gay marriages in our nation's capitol? Just want to hang out with some fabulous gay people and learn something? This weekend, the Columbia College campus will play host to the Unite + Fight Conference, a gathering of LGBT activists from across the Midwest discussing their next strategies in organizing for increased legal recognition.

The conference is headlined by activists of national prominence, including Lt. Dan Choi, an outspoken voice against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, Staceyann Chin, a lesbian spoken word poet and performer, and Adam Bouska, creator of the "NO H8" photo campaign that followed California's passage of Prop. 8 in late 2008. These activists, in addition to a number of Chicago's most active leaders in LGBT communities, will speak in both lecture and workshop-styled sessions throughout the weekend.

Sponsored by Equality Across America and organized by LGBT Change and Join the Impact-Chicago, all-volunteer organizations formed in the fall of 2008, the weekend's goal is to discuss the achievement of full federal equality for LGBT people while forming a strong regional grassroots activist network.

Admission to the conference costs $15, with registration closing at noon Friday. The conference's website includes information on workshop discussion topics, in addition to specific event locations and schedules.