CTA is excited to announce we are seeking presenters for the 2026 CTA LGBTQ+ Issues Conference.
Audre Lorde famously said: “Without community, there is no liberation.” Inspired by her words, this year’s LGBTQ+ Issues Conference invites participants to consider what's possible and necessary to cultivate safe spaces of resilience, strength, and unity. The Conference Planning Committee seek sessions that foster liberatory learning communities for LGBTQ+ peoples and co-conspirators; heighten awareness and advocacy around anti-LGBTQ+ policies; as well as strengthen organizing skills across school districts and local chapters.
The Conference Planning Committee will review all applications and select the presenters based on the following criteria:
- Relevancy to the conference program and attendees
- Inclusion of topics outlined below
- Evidence of knowledge of the subject matter
- Positive prior presentation experience
2026 LGBTQ+ Issues Conference
Conference Date:
November 6-8, 2026
Conference Location:
SFO Marriott, Burlingame
Application Deadline: June 29, 2026
Visit our webpage to learn more and to apply
Application Review Process
The deadline to apply is Monday, June 29, 2026. Presenters will be notified via email of their application status in July. All workshop sessions are one hour and 15 minutes in length. This year the Planning Committee is specifically looking for sessions that fit into the following session themes:
- Awareness
- Capacity & Skill Building
- Taking Action & Organizing
Awareness: These sessions should develop and strengthen participants’ collective awareness and understanding of what’s happening right now to LGBTQ+ educators and students in America, and explore the state of the movement.
- Legislation affecting LGBTQ+ rights across the country
- The connection between anti-CRT attacks and anti-LGBTQ+ attacks
- LGBTQ+ literature and curriculum banning
- Anti-trans rhetoric and attacks on drag
- How educators and students are affected by the current climate
- LGBTQ+ educator and student mental health and wellness
- Understanding of student and educator rights
Capacity & Skill Building: These sessions should provide participants an opportunity to gain or strengthen skills and develop strategies to support LGBTQ+ educators and students.
- Creating affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ students (GSA, braver spaces)
- Lessons learned: What has worked
- Supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues
- Decolonizing our bodies, genders and sexualities
- Celebrating nuanced and positive LGBTQ+ characters in books, film, tv, media
- Showing up as our whole selves - addressing identity at the intersections
- Supporting trans and non-binary students
- Lesson plans for diverse student groups: elementary, secondary, students with disabilities, English learners
Taking Action & Organizing: These sessions should provide participants with tools and skills to advocate, organize and mobilize to disrupt anti-LGBTQ+ actions and advance LGBTQ+ educator and student justice.
- Strategies for fighting back!
- How to create an action plan for equity
- How to engage parents to support LGBTQ+ students and educators
- Creating an organizing plan for LGBTQ+ justice
- Strategies for combating isolation and loneliness
- How to build a coalition of allies who will be there when it matters
- Building a strong local equity team to take action
Presenter Application Questions
The below questions will be required for each workshop application you submit for review. CTA recommends that you write your session details for each question in a separate document and then copy and paste your responses when completing the online application.
There is a 20-minute limit per page in the online process, so typing out your responses beforehand will help avoid your application from timing out. We also recommend using any browser other than Internet Explorer.
- New or Returning Presenter
- Biography Statement & Headshot (Optional)
- Session Title, Grade Level, and Subject Area
- Co-Presenter Name & Email
- Session Description (Used for the program and app)
- Session Summary/Activity (75 minute session timeline)