Present at SOGIEcon 2027 – Original

"SOGIE CON" logo, with a rainbow-colored ring in place of the "O" and the words "True Colors" inside the ring.

Submit a Proposal to Present at SOGIEcon

March 19-20, 2027

SOGIEcon is built on the idea that expertise lives everywhere, in clinics and classrooms, in lived experience and academic research, in youth group meeting rooms and policy offices. Our workshops reflect that breadth. Each year, nearly 200 sessions are led by people who care deeply about LGBTQIA+ youth and have something meaningful to offer.

We Welcome Proposals From:

LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults sharing their own stories and perspectivesEducators and school counselors with classroom-ready tools and strategiesSocial workers, clinicians, and mental health providersHealthcare providers and medical professionalsChild welfare and juvenile justice professionals
Parents, caregivers, and family membersCommunity organizers, advocates, and activistsArtists, performers, and creative practitionersResearchers, policymakers, and scholarsFaith community leaders and clergy

You do not need to be a professional or an academic to present at SOGIEcon. Some of our most powerful workshops have been led by youth themselves.

Workshop Tracks

SOGIEcon organizes workshops into tracks so attendees can find programming that speaks directly to them. When you submit a proposal, you’ll be asked to identify the primary audience your workshop is designed for.

Three young speakers on a stage, lit from the side. A woman in a bird-print dress smiles while speaking into a microphone, flanked by two young men in formal wear, one in a red jacket, the other in a light gray suit and red bow tie.

Youth Track

Workshops designed for and often led by LGBTQIA+ young people. Topics include identity, mental health, relationships, advocacy, creative expression, leadership, and peer support. Youth-led proposals are especially encouraged.

"A student's hand holding a phone with text messages open, foreground blurred, while a teacher writes on a green chalkboard at the front of an empty classroom with rows of desks in between."

Educator and School Professional Track

Practical, classroom- and school-ready sessions for teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff. Topics include creating affirming school environments, supporting trans and nonbinary students, navigating difficult conversations with parents and administrators, GSA leadership, and legal considerations for educators.

A therapist in a navy blazer reviews notes with a client during a therapy session, both seated on a couch in an office with a potted plant in the background.

Clinical and Social Work Track

Evidence-informed sessions for social workers, therapists, counselors, psychologists, case managers, and other helping professionals. Topics include gender-affirming care, trauma-informed practice with LGBTQIA+ youth, family support strategies, child welfare and foster care, and culturally responsive clinical approaches.

Studio portrait of a medium brown skin toned family of five against a plain gray background. A man kneels in front, smiling, wearing a white long-sleeve top, with his arms wrapped around a young girl in a white dress who leans against him. Behind them stand a teenage girl with long dark hair in a white t-shirt and jeans, a teenage boy in a graphic white t-shirt and jeans, and an older teenage boy in a black Adidas t-shirt and jeans. Everyone is looking toward the camera.

Family and Ally Track

Supportive, accessible sessions for parents, caregivers, siblings, and friends of LGBTQIA+ young people. Topics include understanding gender identity and sexual orientation, supporting a coming-out child, navigating religious and cultural identity alongside an LGBTQIA+ family member, and community resources.

A young person and adult standing together at a table looking over resources.

Professional Best Practice Institute

A more intensive, structured professional development track piloted in 2026 and expanding in 2027. Sessions in this track are designed for administrators, policymakers, organizational leaders, and advanced practitioners seeking rigorous, systems-level training on LGBTQIA+ youth inclusion. If you are interested in presenting in this track, please note that in your application.

Close-up group portrait of seven multi-racial and mixed-age people at a Pride celebration, laughing and smiling together against a plain light background. They wear colorful, festive looks: rainbow face paint, an afro-style rainbow wig, a black-and-white mohawk wig, blue-dyed hair, a nose ring, and a rainbow flag draped across two people's shoulders. An older man with a long white beard holds a rainbow-striped item at the edge of the frame.

Community Track

Open to all. Sessions in the Community Track cover topics of broad interest, cultural humility, intersectionality, community building, allyship, and more. This track is designed to be accessible to any attendee regardless of professional background.

What Makes a Strong Proposal

The SOGIEcon programming committee reviews all submissions and selects workshops based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance: Does the session address a topic meaningful to LGBTQIA+ youth or those who serve them?
  • Clarity: Is the session description clear, specific, and honest about what attendees will take away?
  • Audience fit: Is the proposed track the right match for the content and intended participants?
  • Engagement: Does the format encourage participation, dialogue, or hands-on learning rather than passive listening?
  • Diversity of voices: We actively seek proposals from LGBTQIA+ presenters, presenters of color, youth presenters, and those whose perspectives are underrepresented in professional settings.

First-time presenters are warmly welcomed. If you have never presented at a conference before and are unsure whether your idea is a good fit, reach out to us before submitting, we are happy to help you shape your proposal.

How to Apply

reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted presenters will be notified by [DATE TBD].

To apply, you will need:

  • Your name, organization (if applicable), and contact information
  • A short bio (150 words or less)
  • Your workshop title
  • A session description (250 words or less) written for the public-facing program guide
  • A brief description of your session format and any technology or setup needs
  • Your preferred track and intended audience
  • An indication of whether you are applying for CEC eligibility
  • Whether you are requesting a stipend or travel support

[Presenter application: LINK TBD]

Questions? Contact [PRESENTER COORDINATOR EMAIL TBD] and someone from the programming team will follow up.

Formats & Logistics FAQs

Most SOGIEcon workshops are 50 minutes. Some sessions, particularly in the Professional Best Practices Institute, may run longer. Please indicate your preferred session length in your application.

Rooms are arranged in a variety of configurations (theater style, classroom style, or circle) depending on the nature of the session. You may request a preferred setup, and we’ll do our best to accommodate it.

Basic A/V equipment (projector, screen, and microphone where needed) is available in most workshop spaces. If your session requires specific technology, please note this in your application. Presenters are responsible for bringing their own laptops and adapters.

Yes. SOGIEcon offers CECs for qualifying professional sessions. If you’d like your workshop to be eligible, there are additional steps in the application process, which will be outlined in the presenter application.

All accepted presenters receive complimentary conference registration. A limited number of stipends and travel reimbursements are also available for presenters who aren’t sponsored by an employer or institution. Please indicate in your application if you would need financial support to participate.

“This past week, I had the privilege of presenting at SOGIEcon at the University of Connecticut, an experience that felt especially meaningful after spending the past year volunteering behind the scenes to support conference operations.” – Charisma Farrington, UConn Senior