Planned and organized entirely by students—a tradition that proudly continues today—what would later become the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference emerged in the early 1990s as an answer to the question of how to connect, educate, and empower queer students throughout the region. This came at a time when the continued growth of the mainstream lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights movement—largely underrepresenting transgender and gender non-conforming folx—was most present and powerful on the east and west coasts, isolating students in the Midwest from national LGBT work by geography, political realities, and access to resources.
In 1991, college students at another conference in Des Moines came together around this reality and dreamt the MBLGCC into existence. They wanted to be part of the solution; to give a voice to queer students in the Midwest; and to make it and MBLGTACC a destination for acclaimed entertainers, activists, and thought leaders. They sought to create an oasis in what Justin Connor (MBLGCC ‘94) says was seen as “a queer desert.”
The group came together a year later to lay down the organizing principles and logistical roadmap for a conference of LGBT students, to be held each year at a college or university in the Midwest. The first annual MBLGCC was held at Iowa State University in February 1993, a collaborative effort between students at Iowa State and Drake University.
For over 27 years, MBLGTACC has brought students together from around the region—and the nation—to learn from one another’s experiences, build-up each other’s knowledge and skills, and share in community. It has attracted respected advocates, thought leaders, entertainers, and artists to the Midwest and created space for growth and togetherness.
The Institute is actively working to unearth more conference history. Were you an early MBLGCC or MBLGTCC planner? Connect with Noah about our MBLGTACC history project.
1993: The 1st annual Midwest, Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian College Conference took place at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
1994: Identities listed in the conference name were re-ordered, and the conference became known as the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, and Gay College Conference.
1995: The theme for the 1995 and 1996 conferences was “Building Queer Success in the Midwest.” While it is unconfirmed, conference lore suggests this was intended to be the conference’s official slogan. Later conferences selected other themes, but the commitment to building queer success in the Midwest remained constant.
1997: The conference was renamed the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender College Conference.
2001: The conference was renamed the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference.
2007: Student organizers created the Oversight Committee.
2013: Hosted in Lansing, Michigan by students from Michigan State University, MBLGTACC drew 2000+ attendees for the first time.
2015: Hosted in Normal, Illinois by students from Illinois State University, MBLGTACC reached 2500 attendees for the first time. Later that year, the MBLGTACC Oversight Committee authorized creation of a non-profit with professional staff.
2016: The Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity was officially launched.
2017: The 25th annual MBLGTACC was held in Chicago, Illinois, attracting 2300 attendees.
2018: The conference was hosted in Nebraska for the first time. Later that year, it was renamed the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Asexual College Conference.
2019: The conference will be hosted in Kansas for the first time.
Year |
Host School(s) |
Conference Theme |
Program Book |
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1993 |
Iowa State University and Drake University |
First annual MBLGCC |
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1994 |
Earlham College (Indiana) |
Greetings From The 90's... Wish You Were Here Queer |
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1995 |
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale |
Building Queer Success in the Midwest |
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1996 |
Beloit College (Wisconsin) |
Building Queer Success in the Midwest |
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1997 |
Indiana State University |
We're Here! We're Queer! We're Fabulous! |
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1998 |
University of Illinois at Chicago |
Across the Fruited Plain |
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1999 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Moving Forward, Looking Back |
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2000 |
Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) |
Making Waves Into the New Millennium |
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2001 |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Out and About: Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Boundaries, Breaking the Labels |
|
2002 |
Michigan State University |
Still Moving Forward |
|
2003 |
The Ohio State University |
Loving With Pride |
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2004 |
Iowa State University |
Speak Up! Speak Out! Celebrating the Power of Communication to Fight Hate and Fear |
|
2005 |
Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) |
Building the Bridge to Bring It All Together |
|
2006 |
University of South Dakota |
Painting the Rainbow: Celebrating Unity Through Diversity |
|
2007 |
University of Minnesota at Twin Cities |
Alphabet Soup: No Matter The Letter We Stand Together |
|
2008 |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Voting for Change: Liberty and Justice For All |
|
2009 |
Indiana University Bloomington |
Living Out Loud: Examining Our Past to Enhance Our Future |
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2010 |
University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Get Real! Confronting Privilege, Provoking Dialogue and Building New Foundations |
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2011 |
University of Michigan |
Justice or Just Us? Achieving Liberty for All |
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2012 |
Iowa State University |
The Butterfly Effect: Evolution to Revolution |
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2013 |
Michigan State University |
Mosaic: Putting the Pieces Together |
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2014 |
University of Missouri-Kansas City |
Jazzin' It Up |
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2015 |
Illinois State University |
Narrating a New Normal |
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2016 |
Introspection at the Crossroads |
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2017 |
Chicago Coalition of Queer and Allied Students |
United in Solidarity |
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2018 |
All Roads Lead to Intersectionality |
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2019 |
Beyond the Rainbow and to the Stars |
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2020 |
Western Michigan University |
Envisioning a Future Together |
Year |
Host School(s) |
Conference Theme |
Program Book |
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1993 Iowa State University and Drake University First annual MBLGCC
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1994 Earlham College (Indiana) Greetings From The 90's... Wish You Were Here Queer |
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1995 Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Building Queer Success in the Midwest
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1996 Beloit College (Wisconsin) Building Queer Success in the Midwest
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1997 Indiana State University We're Here! We're Queer! We're Fabulous!
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1998 University of Illinois at Chicago Across the Fruited Plain
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1999 University of Wisconsin-Madison Moving Forward, Looking Back
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2000 Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) Making Waves Into the New Millennium
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2001 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Out and About: Breaking the Silence, Breaking the Boundaries, Breaking the Labels
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2002 Michigan State University Still Moving Forward |
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2003 The Ohio State University Loving With Pride
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2004 Iowa State University Speak Up! Speak Out! Celebrating the Power of Communication to Fight Hate and Fear
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2005 Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) Building the Bridge to Bring It All Together
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2006 University of South Dakota Painting the Rainbow: Celebrating Unity Through Diversity
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2007 University of Minnesota at Twin Cities Alphabet Soup: No Matter The Letter We Stand Together |
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2008 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Voting for Change: Liberty and Justice For All |
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2009 Indiana University Bloomington Living Out Loud: Examining Our Past to Enhance Our Future |
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2010 University of Wisconsin-Madison Get Real! Confronting Privilege, Provoking Dialogue and Building New Foundations |
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2011 University of Michigan Justice or Just Us? Achieving Liberty for All |
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2012 Iowa State University The Butterfly Effect: Evolution to Revolution |
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2013 Michigan State University Mosaic: Putting the Pieces Together |
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2014 University of Missouri-Kansas City Jazzin' It Up |
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2015 Illinois State University Narrating a New Normal |
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2016 Introspection at the Crossroads |
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2017 Chicago Coalition of Queer and Allied Students United in Solidarity |
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2018 All Roads Lead to Intersectionality |
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2019 Beyond the Rainbow and to the Stars |
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2020 Western Michigan University Envisioning a Future Together
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