The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC) will hold its 17th annual conference Feb. 13-15, 2009 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. MBLGTACC promotes leadership, activism, networking, diversity, health, and empowerment among gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, allied, and queer students, staff, and faculty around the Midwest. This year's theme is "Living Out Loud: Examining the Past to Enhance Our Future."

The Advocate recently ranked Bloomington as the nation's No. 1 gay-friendly small town vacation destination while Indiana University was included in The Advocate's top 20 list of schools for LGBT students. The Campus Climate Index also rated Indiana University 3.5 out of 5 in a recent survey.

OUTmedia's Queer Riot! with Julie Goldman will perform on the first night of the conference, Friday, Feb. 13. Queer Riot! includes nationally recognized comedians Marga Gomez, Vidur Kapur, and Jason Stuart. The Kinsey Sicks, world-renowned dragapella beautyshop quartet will perform Saturday, Feb. 14, followed by a dance party to round out the night's events. More entertainment acts are scheduled to play during registration and with the main acts.

Conference keynote speakers are out ESPN sports columnist LZ Granderson and ISU Professor Kand McQueen. Granderson is a senior writer and columnist for ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com, as well as a regular contributor for ESPN's Sports Center, Outside the Lines and First Take. Perhaps the most visible openly gay sports journalist in the nation, Granderson broke the Sheryl Swoopes coming out story in 2005 and has been at the forefront of discussion surrounding gays in sports for much of his 13-year career, ruffling the feathers of liberals and conservatives alike with his matter-of-fact approach. McQueen holds a Ph.D. from Indiana University and currently teaches at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. McQueen's research interests include assessing attitudes toward the atypically gendered and deconstructing the two gender paradigm. A third speaker will be announced shortly.

MBLGTACC hosts workshops led by students, faculty, and professionals to educate and motivate students to action. Participants will attend five sessions from a list of over 50 workshops concerning topics such as safe sex, activism basics, creating change on your campus, and ally community building.

The registration fee is $60 for all. Registration can be completed online via the conference website. Scholarships are available for the first 100 IU Bloomington undergrad and graduate students who apply. See website for details on free registration.

This conference will be wheelchair accessible and will have ASL interpreters at main events.