91ÉçÇø

Queer Youth Conference

8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
91ÉçÇø Union
91ÉçÇø, NY 

The 91ÉçÇø Q Center invites youth from Southern Tier and South Central New York schools, GSA (Gay Straight Alliance or Gender and Sexuality Alliance) advisors, and university students to attend this dynamic, day-long conference. United in Identity: Queer Youth Conference will address critical issues facing LGBTQ+ youth while also engaging all participants in discussions around coalition building, social empowerment, and expression of queer joy. 

University students and youth from local and regional schools will hear directly from Q Center staff, LGBTQ+ student leaders, and a keynote speaker. GSA advisors will have additional breakout session options lead by Q Center and LGBTQ+ university staff focused on identifying sustainable advocacy strategies when working with queer youth. 

Conference registration is now open! Please register for the conference by Thursday, October 15!

• Schedule at a Glance

  8 A.M. - Check-in & Welcome Breakfast
  9 - 9:30 A.M. - Opening Remarks
  9:30 - 10:10 A.M. - Breakout Session #1*
  10:20 - 11 A.M. - Breakout Session #2*
  11 - 12 P.M. - Keynote Speaker
  12 - 1 P.M. - Resource Fair and Lunch
  1:10 - 1:50 P.M. - Breakout Session #3*
  2 - 2:15 P.M. - Closing Remarks
  2:30 -3:30 P.M. - Social Mixer at the Q Center**

  *Each breakout session time will have 2-3 session choices all located within the same area of the University Union. Sessions include interactive presentations from staff from our Center for Community Engagement and College for Community and Public Affairs, as well as student leaders from our Rainbow Pride Union, oSTEM (Out in STEM), and SHADES student organizations.

  **Closing session will end by 2:15pm with the Q Center Social Mixer being an optional opportunity from 2:30-3:30pm for all attendees

• Breakout Sessions

  Breakout Session 1 (9:30-10:10am)

  Trans People Through History Moira Haggerty Identity Youth Center, Specialist	From Pharaohs and Emperors to Soldiers and Servants, TGNC people have existed in every time and culture. We will examine 6 examples of genderqueer people from ages past, and have a lively discussion!
  Cracking the Code: From LGBTQIAP+ History to Activism Rainbow Pride Union Executive Board	In times when openly expressing one's identity was unsafe, many LGBTQIAP+ individuals utilized code to send messages. Through an interactive cipher-decoding activity, participants will create their own coded messages about the future of activism and ways to contribute to a more equitable community.
  Panel - Practical Strategies for Supporting LGBTQ+ Folks within the Helping Professions Jesse La Scala (Moderator) 91ÉçÇø	Join this panel discussion made up of four 91ÉçÇø faculty members across the fields of Education, Healthcare, Social Work, and Student Affairs. Through a Q&A, attendees will learn practical strategies for building an inclusive and affirming environment for LGBTQ+ students, patients, and clients.  This session is particularly suited for college students interested in these fields of work, as well as advisors, faculty, and staff.

  Breakout Session 2 (10:20-11am)

  Mentorship Circle: Building Community Across Generations Gabby Bonilla and Brian Hubbell 91ÉçÇø	High school students and college student mentors will come together in a welcoming circle to share experiences, build connections, and support one another. Through conversation and reflection, participants can learn from one another and strengthen their sense of belonging in the LGBTQ+ community.
  Panel - Queer Students Abroad Jasdeep Braich Q Center SOGIE Peer Educator	Join us for a panel discussion with students who have recently returned from their study abroad experiences! Hear about how they picked their programs, found queer community abroad, and navigated their identities in a new cultural context.
  Student Support Advisors Circle  Jen Smith 91ÉçÇø, Assistant Director, Diversity Education and Bias Response	Advisors who support LGBTQ+ high school students will gather to share experiences, discuss challenges, and learn from one another. This circle offers a welcoming space to strengthen connections and explore ways to support students’ well-being and sense of belonging. This session will be limited to 15 attendees; first priority will be given to K-12 advisors/teachers, followed by university faculty and staff.

  Breakout Session 3 (1:10-1:50pm)

  Constructive Dialogue for Younger Generations Saida Burns-Moore 91ÉçÇø Center for Community Engagement, Civic Engagement Coordinator	Join the Civil Dialogue Project for an interactive workshop designed to provide youth with the tools needed to lead constructive and open dialogue in their schools and communities. Together, we'll build foundational skills for civil dialogue and create space to connect, share, and grow with peers.
  Your Identity, Your Choice: Navigating Coming Out  Q Center SOGIE Peer Educators	The Q Center student staff will lead students through the various factors involved in deciding when, how, where, and to whom to come out as LGBTQ+. Regardless of where students are at with understanding and expressing their own gender identity and sexual orientation, they will leave feeling affirmed in their identity and empowered to make safe decisions about the prospect of coming out.
  VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) and Accessible Classroom Conversations with Art Amanda Lynn 91ÉçÇø Art Museum, Manager of Education and Visitor Experience	Visual Thinking Strategies can provide accessible entry points for tough conversations using art as a catalyst for discussion. This session will explore how this strategy can scaffold neurodivergent learners, and create engaging and meaningful conversations about disability and queerness through a fine art lens.

• Registration

  Registration is now live!

  Conference registration is free for all attendees. If you are registering on behalf of multiple students, you will be guided within the registration form to provide all relevent information for each student attendee. Please contact Nick Martin at martinn@binghamton.edu if you have any questions related to the registration form.

  This conference will be most applicaple for:

  • Youth within the Southern Tier and South Central New York involved with a GSA or similarly themed club at their high school or middle school
  • LGBTQ+ identifying youth within the Southern Tier and South Central New York
  • High school or middle school GSA Advisors, faculty, or support staff who advocate for and directly support LGBTQ+ student populations at their school
  • 91ÉçÇø undergraduate and graduate students looking to go into work affiliated with K-12 students (teachers, social workers, education, human development, etc...) or are actively involved in LGBTQ+ affirming student organizations on campus
• Keynote Speaker

  Kalynn Bayron

  Kalynn Bayron is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the YA fantasy novels Cinderella Is Dead and This Poison Heart. Her latest works include the YA horror novel You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight and the middle grade paranormal adventure The Vanquishers. She is a CILIP Carnegie Medal Nominee, a Bram Stoker Award nominee, a
  LOCUS Award finalist, and the recipient of the 2022 Randall Kenan Award for Black LGBTQ fiction. She is a classically trained vocalist and musical theater enthusiast. When she's not writing, you can find her watching scary movies and spending time with her family.

  

• Additional Information

  Any questions related to this conference can be emailed to Erin Hansen at ehansen1@binghamton.edu. If you would like to attend the conference, but are unable to find transportation to the university, please email Erin to discuss your specific situation. We are committed to bringing as many interested youth to campus as possible for this conference.

• Vendor Information

  If you are interested in being a vendor during the lunch portion of the Queer Youth Conference, please email Erin Hansen at ehansen1@binghamton.edu for more information.