The seventh annual Louisiana Queer Conference brought together people of all ages, races, genders and sexual orientations to promote a message of inclusivity and community for all.
The free one-day conference, held March 25 in the Business Education Complex, was organized by University LGBTQ advocacy organizations Spectrum and QROMA. Though the event was student-run, it was open to community members from across the state.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Restore. Reclaim. Reunite. Standing together for the Community.”
The itinerary for LAQC consisted of two panels and three workshop sessions. To conclude the conference, keynote speaker Michael Sam, the first openly gay NFL player, shared his story with attendees.
Biology junior Melissa Lam, one of the conference organizers, said she thought the conference was achieving its goal of improving each year.
“I think this conference gives its attendees a safe space to express their thoughts and insight on ways to better the community and have intersectional discussions on things that affect all of the community and not just a certain part of it,” Lam said.
The conference takes a year to plan. In putting together LAQC’s itinerary, the organizers sought to provide workshops focusing on education, awareness and dialogue, and helping all members of the community but especially marginalized groups, Lam said.
A few topics of the 11 workshops offered were LGBTQ sexual education, race and representation and the history of queer movements and resistance.
The panels had moderators and speakers that included University faculty, students and alumni, as well as state activists and students from other state universities active in their schools’ LGBTQ organizations.
“The importance of this conference is to be able to bring queer students from all over the state together to embrace what it means to be queer,” Lam said.
University of Louisiana at Monroe toxicology and pharmacy sophomore Cameron Primeaux and computer science freshman Liz Peters are president and treasurer of the Gay Straight Alliance at ULM, respectively.
Peters said the conference gives students the opportunity to connect with others in the queer community throughout the state, and shows people that others are still willing to help, because “the fight isn’t over just because gay marriage was legalized.”
Organizing the conference was a University-wide effort. LAQC was able to be put on through the collaboration of “gold” sponsors around campus such as the UREC, Office of Diversity, Office of Multicultural Affairs, College of Human Sciences and Education, School of Social Work and Department of Communication Studies.
“I am so pleased with all of the student organizers and the volunteers that helped put this together,” Vice Provost for Diversity Dereck Rovaris said. “I’m equally impressed with the number of units on campus that came together to make this happen, because this doesn’t just happen in isolation. It’s not just the Office of Diversity, we had…other organizations on campus that came together to help sponsor and make this possible.”
Addressing an eager audience, Sam delivered a powerful keynote speech, opening up to the crowd about his journey. He spoke frankly about his early familial struggles, introduction to sports, realization of his sexual orientation and coming out to friends, family, and the world.
While Sam was out to his family and University of Missouri teammates, he came out publicly on ESPN in 2014, and became the first openly gay football player to be drafted by the NFL later that year.
“My story, like many in the LGBTQ community, begins with tragedy,” Sam said. “The majority of my entire life I lived in fear.”
Sam talked about his first boyfriend and how he kept their relationship a secret, ashamed of his sexual orientation. After publicly coming out, Sam said he realized how important helping others like himself and representing the LGBTQ community was because taking the time to listen to others can save lives.
“We are proud people,” Sam said. “Love yourself, love others, and continue showing the world you belong here.”
