4th Annual Black Educated Lesbians Conference
Thrive in Purpose: Legacy in Motion
September 17–19, 2027 | Chicago, Illinois
Join Black Educated Lesbians for our 4th Annual BEL Conference as we bring our community to Chicago for three days of connection, education, wellness, leadership, and community.
Thrive in Purpose: Legacy in Motion reflects where BEL is going next: creating spaces where Black lesbians and Black queer women can strengthen their well-being, expand their knowledge, build meaningful connections, and continue creating legacies for ourselves and our communities.
The 2027 conference will begin with our Friday evening Welcome Reception, followed by two days of conference programming featuring subject-matter experts, facilitated discussions, panels, community resources, vendors, networking, and opportunities to connect with BEL members from across the country.
Registration Rates
2026 Attendee Loyalty Rate | October 1–December 31, 2026
General Admission: $200 | VIP: $300
This exclusive registration period is reserved for attendees of the 2026 BEL Conference.
Public Early Bird | January 1–February 28, 2027
General Admission: $250 | VIP: $350
Standard Registration | March 1–July 31, 2027
General Admission: $300 | VIP: $400
Late Registration | August 1–September 1, 2027
General Admission: $350 | VIP: $450
Registration will close September 1, 2027, or earlier if conference capacity is reached.
Your Registration Includes:
General Admission includes admission to conference programming, Friday's Welcome Reception, lunch on Saturday and Sunday, conference swag bag, and two raffle tickets.
VIP Admission includes everything in General Admission plus a premium swag bag, professional headshot opportunity on Saturday, and four raffle tickets.
Registration Opens October 1, 2026
The first registration period is exclusively for our 2026 conference attendees as our way of giving the community that joined us in Atlanta the first opportunity to secure their place in Chicago.
Public registration opens January 1, 2027.
Space will be limited. Once a registration period ends, its corresponding rate will no longer be available.
2027 Call for Proposals
Share Your Expertise With the BEL Community
Black Educated Lesbians is now accepting proposals for the 4th Annual BEL Conference: Thrive in Purpose — Legacy in Motion, taking place September 17–19, 2027, in Chicago, Illinois.
We are seeking qualified professionals, practitioners, educators, researchers, and subject-matter experts to facilitate substantive, educational sessions designed to provide our community with practical knowledge, resources, and tools they can use beyond the conference.
Programming will center on women’s health and wellness, mental and brain health, nutrition, career development, investing and wealth building, along with a featured panel discussion.
Priority topics include PMOS & Hormonal Health, Menopause & Midlife Health, Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Health, Uterine Fibroids & Reproductive Health, GI & Digestive Health, Nutrition, Mental Health, Brain Health & Healthy Aging, Employment & Career Navigation, and Investing & Wealth Building.
BEL is committed to programming that is educational, evidence-informed where appropriate, culturally responsive, practical, and relevant to the experiences of Black lesbians and Black queer women.
Facilitator and panelist opportunities through the Call for Proposals are voluntary and unpaid. Presenters are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.
Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis among qualified applicants, and individual opportunities may close once the appropriate facilitator or panelist has been confirmed.
Final Submission Deadline: January 31, 2027
For complete eligibility requirements, presenter expectations, proposal guidelines, required materials, and application instructions, visit the full 2027 Call for Proposals page.