January 13, 2016  

LGBTQ and ally student-led conference to bring Judy Shepard, speakers, entertainers to Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Crossroad Coalition, a Purdue University student organization, is hosting the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender, Ally College Conference 2016: Introspection at the Crossroads on Feb. 19-21.

The three-day conference requires registration, but the "The Legacy of Matthew Shepard" talk by Judy Shepard is free and open to the public. Shepard is the mother of Matthew Shepard and a LGBTQIA+ rights advocate and will speak 6-7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Elliott Hall of Music. Conference registration is available online for $85 though Feb. 10. Onsite registration is $100.

MBLGTACC 2016 is working in collaboration with the LGBTQ Center at Purdue and the Purdue Student Leadership Initiative. MBLGTACC 2016 is sponsored by PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, General Motors and Purdue's offices of the Provost and Dean of Students.

Shepard is an anti-hate crimes activist since her son Matthew was killed in 1998 for being gay. The Matthew Shepard Foundation works to carry on Matthew's legacy and support just causes.

The other conference speakers are:

* Jessica Pettitt, social justice and diversity educator.

* Retired Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopalian bishop.

* Todrick Hall, YouTube star, singer and dancer.

The conference also will include a dance and a drag show, which will be hosted by Miss Alice Sin. The conference also has more than 60 workshops and forums for attendees; workshops encompass professional development, diversity and inclusion, leadership skill development, educational topics, and a variety of other topics. These workshops will be led by many Purdue students, faculty and staff, along with others from a variety of Midwest universities. All speakers and events are part of the conference registration.

MBLGTACC is an annual LGBTQIA+ conference that brings together students, staff, faculty and community members from universities and colleges across the Midwest. More than 2,000 LGBTQ and ally attendees attend the conference each year. 

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, 765-494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Sources: Deedra Stevenson, director of marketing, media, and outreach for MBLGTACC 2016 at Purdue, steve101@purdue.edu, 765-601-1255

Jim Hintz, adviser for MBLGTACC 2016 at Purdue, hintzj@purdue.edu, 765-494-7431

Lowell Kane, director LGBTQ Center, kane14@purdue.edu, 765-496-6231 

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