Queer College Conference: Full Schedule

5:30pm PDT

Welcome Address

Welcome to the Queer College Conference! We'll begin by having Nate Monson, the Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools, say a few words and then move right along to our first session of workshops!

Wednesday September 8, 2021 5:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Virtual

Welcome to the Conference!

6:00pm PDT

Navigating Gender (Live Workshop)

Join Jordan Mix in a discussion about navigating gender. This session will be more of a dialogue than a presentation and we encourage participants to share their own experiences and struggles as we talk about the complicated proccess of understanding this complex idea.

Moderators

Jordan Mix

Wednesday September 8, 2021 6:00pm - 6:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 1

6:00pm PDT

Sex Ed (Live Workshop)

Sex ed is such an important part of our education! And it is often that sex ed misses the mark for most LGTQIA folx. This session will discuss safer sex in a much more inclusive way, making space for all bodies, and all manners of finding pleasure. Beth & Elizabeth will bring a combined 15 years of experience in the sexual health field and a shared commitment to remove shame and stigma from our conversations and our classrooms.

Speakers

Beth Mensing

Manager of Education, Planned Parenthood

Elizabeth Wolfe

Health Educator, Planned Parenthood

Wednesday September 8, 2021 6:00pm - 6:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 1

6:00pm PDT

The Saddle Gurl Drag Panel (Live Workshop)

Hey cool cats and kittens! Please join the Saddle Gurls of The Legendary Blazing Saddle for The Saddle Gurl Drag Panel! They will be sharing their drag journeys; from how they got started and how they got to where they are today, followed by a brief makeup tutorial. There will also be a Q & A where you can ask the Gurls anything you want to know about DRAG. They are excited to share their expertise and experiences, so make sure to tune in for this fabulous event.

Speakers

Vana B. and the Saddle Gurls

Vana B. and the Saddle Gurls are Des Moine's local drag extra ordinaires! From performances at clubs throughout the Midwest to fierce competitions like Sasha Belle's Drag Race, these queens are the leading authority on all things drag.

Wednesday September 8, 2021 6:00pm - 6:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 1

7:00pm PDT

How to Host a Drag Show

Join Drake's Rainbow Union in a step by step talk about how to host an effective drag show fundraiser! Rainbow Union has brought names as large as Shangela and Tatianna to their campus and their drag shows bring crowds larger than any other events on campus. If you have ever wanted to bring in a large crowd or profit for an event, make sure to attend this session!

Speakers

Drake Rainbow Union

Drake University's Rainbow Union is a Queer Student Organization that has found major success in its drag show fundraiser. Bringing well over 100 students to each show that they host, Rainbow Union's events are the largest on campus. As the shows have grown, Rainbow Union has brought... Read More →

Wednesday September 8, 2021 7:00pm - 7:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 2

7:00pm PDT

Politics & Policy

Interested in politics, government, or LGBTQ policy, but not sure where to start? Tune into this workshop to hear directly from Iowa Safe Schools’ Director of Public Policy about what it’s like to work on local, state, and federal policy initiatives, as well as working in the political sphere during the most critical presidential election in recent history.

Speakers

Damian Thompson

Damian J. Thompson is the Director of Public Policy & Communications at Iowa Safe Schools. Damian joins our team from the Office of the Governor, where he oversaw constituent outreach and planned special events. Before his tenure at the Office of the Governor, Damian worked at a bipartisan... Read More →

Wednesday September 8, 2021 7:00pm - 7:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 2

7:00pm PDT

Running a Queer Student Organization On a Religious Campus (Live Workshop)

Being queer on a regligious campus can be challenging. While there are many religiously affiliated colleges that have safe spaces and supportive environments, sometimes LGBTQ people and efforts are met with resistance. We have put together a panel of students from colleges aroud the Midwest to come together and discuss the successes and challenges that they have faced

Moderators

Luke Miller

Wednesday September 8, 2021 7:00pm - 7:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 2

8:00pm PDT

Dixie Longate's Tupperware Party

Hey y’all, I’m Dixie Longate. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, I started selling Tupperware as one of the conditions of my parole. I did my first party, had so much fun and got free drinks from the host so I knew this was a job for me. In 2007, I took my party out of the living room and onto the stage with an off-Broadway production of “Dixie’s Tupperware Party.” After sharing a little southern charm with the northerners in NY, I took my show on the road. In 2008, I started taking my party from city to city and, up until corona happened, I had been running for 12 years in 5 different countries and had become one of the longest-running off-Broadway tours in history. Now I am helping people with their food storage needs from the comfort of my trailer when I can get my dang kids out of the way. I’m here to share some giggles, some stories and the very best of those air-tight containers that your momma still uses after all these years. I’ll make your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher. Trust me when I say, this ain’t your grandma’s Tupperware party.

Speakers

Dixie Longate

Wednesday September 8, 2021 8:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Virtual

Keynote 1

12:00pm PDT

Brain Health: Mental Health Self-Care for LGBTQ College Students

In this workshop, participants will learn about the unique dynamics that impact the mental health of LGBTQ college students. Individuals will be able to identify common mental health issues that LGBTQ students experience as well as learn different strategies for coping with the unique stressors of the college experience. Participants will also learn about different resources to utilize to assist with self-care and improving mental health functioning.

Speakers

Joby Holcomb

Joby Holcomb, Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor, received his Master’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Joby has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families in a variety of settings including Psychiatric... Read More →

Thursday September 9, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 3

12:00pm PDT

Financial Literacy (Live Workshop)

Speakers

Cody Pribble

Cody Pribble is a branch manager at Collins Community Credit Union and has worked in banking for most of his career. As someone with a lot of experience in finance, Cody is very excited to share his knowledge with the conference and show us a few tips and tricks to make sure you are... Read More →

Thursday September 9, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 3

12:00pm PDT

FUTURE! LEGACY! GROWTH! Your student organization legacy: honoring the past, connecting to the future

Speakers

Leo Peterson

Leo Peterson is the Director of Youth Engagement at Iowa Safe Schools, where he oversees Gay-Straight Alliance and Queer Campus programming. As a licensed teacher, lifelong learner, and ardent advocate for tomorrow’s leaders, Leo’s commitment to education and youth development... Read More →

Thursday September 9, 2021 12:00pm - 12:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 3

1:00pm PDT

Advocating For Meaningful Change On Your Campus

College students have a lot on their plate. Classes, work, clubs, and social lives all take a lot of time and effort so they are asked to be responsible for working on issues as large as prejudice and bigotry, it can be difficult to find manageable ways to create real change. As the former president of his Queer Student Organization, Luke Miller faced challenges ranging from ignorant administration to discrimination within his own organization. As a leader, he worked dilligently to create long lasting change on his campus and will be sharing his advice for how to take effective action.

Speakers

Tony Tyler

Thursday September 9, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 4

1:00pm PDT

Being Queer in Professional World (Live Workshop)

As we graduate from college and move into the professional sphere, it can be intimidating to think about how to navigate your identity and how to express it in a new environment. These esteemed queer professionals are here to share their experiences with the workplace and how they have worked with their companies to make them a safer place for everyone

Thursday September 9, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 4

1:00pm PDT

Taking Steps to Create an Inclusive Group

As you build your groups, it is important to make sure that you are building a space where everyone feels welcome. It can be easy for groups to form close friendships that make it hard for other students to join in and participate, which can send the wrong message. This session will focus aronud how to send the right message and let members of our community know that your group is a safe space for them.

Speakers

Luke Miller

Thursday September 9, 2021 1:00pm - 1:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 4

2:00pm PDT

Community Organizing: Building Transformative Change in Iowa

Have you ever wanted to change something in your town, on your campus, or in your local community, but you weren't sure how? Community organizing brings people together to make real, sustainable changes for a more just society. Come hear from organizers with Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa's largest people-powered organization, who will discuss how we make the world better through collective action.

Speakers

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement

Thursday September 9, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 5

2:00pm PDT

Queer History

Speakers

Haley Johnson

John Deere

Thursday September 9, 2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm PDT
Virtual

Session 5

3:00pm PDT

Keynote Schuyler Bailar

Schuyler Bailar is the first out transgender man to compete in D1 athletics and a fierce advocate for the community. Join his keynote session to hear a little about his story and then participate in an extended Q&A session where you get to interact with Schuyler and have a dialogue about issues that are important to you.

Speakers

Schuyler Bailar

Schuyler is the first trans athlete to compete in any sport on an NCAA D1 men’s team, and the only to have competed for all four years. He is an internationally-celebrated inspirational speaker and a respected advocate for inclusion, body-positivity, and mental health awareness.Schuyler... Read More →

Thursday September 9, 2021 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Virtual

Keynote 2