Black Queer Studies Conference

Hosted by the Communication Department.

The Black Queer Studies Conference 2025 (BQSC25) will be held from April 4-6, 2025, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, marking the 25th anniversary of Black Queer Studies at the Millennium. This momentous event returns to its original site—UNC-Chapel Hill, where the first Black Queer Studies conference was co-organized in 2000 by Dr. E. Patrick Johnson and Dr. Mae G. Henderson.

BQSC25 will bring together an intergenerational group of artists, activists, and scholars to engage in critical conversations on the intersections of Blackness and queerness. A key highlight of this year’s conference will be a series of intergenerational dialogues between the original participants and emerging scholars, artists, and activists whose work continues to shape and redefine the field.

In addition to panel discussions, BQSC25 will feature performances, a curated exhibition, and a closing community picnic, all of which are free and open to the public. However, due to limited space, registration is required for attendance.

Join us in this historic gathering as we celebrate the transformative work of Black queer scholars, artists, and activists and continue to build community and solidarity across generations. The Institute for the Arts and Humanities is a sponsor of the Black Queer Studies Conference 2025.

For more information and to register, visit bqsc25.org.