Celebrating its 5th year this weekend, the Minnesota Out College Conference brings high school and college students around the state and parts of the Midwest together each year to “network, socialize, and educate each other through a lens of social justice to create more welcoming, affirming and safe climates on all campuses.” This year’s event will be held at Augsburg College Nov. 12 to 14. This year’s event has filled up fast with nearly 450 people from 37 colleges in 5 states attending. Some spots remain open for high school students.

Here’s the press release for the event:

The Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance is proud to announce that the annual Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference (MOCC) will take place at Augsburg College in Minneapolis on Friday November 12 – Sunday November 14. For the first time ever, registration is FREE for students. Non-student fee is $30 and scholarships are available for those who cannot pay the entire cost.

This year’s focus is “Uniting for Justice: A Deeper Look at Race, Ec…onomics and Immigration in GLBTQ Communities.” Attendees will learn about the intersections between gender and sexual justice with racial, economic, and immigration justice while developing valuable leadership skills around building coalitions and fostering activism.

MOCC 2010 keynote speakers are Coya Artichoker, Kenyon Farrow, Susan Raffo, and Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz. MOCC is excited to host the Minnesota premiere of the film Two Spirits: Sexuality, Gender, and the Murder of Fred Martinez on Friday evening, with discussion led by executive producer Richard LaFortune. On Saturday evening, Twin Cities Black Pride will present several vignettes from their sold-out play, Fierce Love, and Minneapolis-based and national award-winning rapper, spoken-word poet, and activist Kyle “Guante” Myhre will perform.

Each year, MOCC brings gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual and allied persons together from colleges and communities throughout Minnesota and the surrounding region to network, socialize, and educate each other through a lens of social justice to create more welcoming, affirming and safe climates on all campuses and in the greater community.

MOCC 2010 registration is closed. For schedule, speaker biographies, and additional details, visit www.mncampusalliance.org/mocc. Contact the MOCC 2010 Planning Committee at [email protected] with questions.

MOCC 2009: McNally Smith College of Music
MOCC 2008: Minnesota State University, Mankato
MOCC 2007: Metropolitan State University
MOCC 2006: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities