07/04/2026

CSCA 2027 ... Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) Caucus Call for Papers

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY (SOGI) CAUCUS

Call for Papers and Panels

Central States Communication Association (CSCA) Annual Convention

Madison, WI

April 7^th -11^th, 2027

Navigate–Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain

The Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) Caucus invites submissions of competitive papers and panel proposals for the 2027 Central States Communication Association (CSCA) convention in Madison, WI. For over 20 years, we have been planning and providing queer programming for our conferences and are looking forward to continuing calling in scholars across the LGBTQ+ community!

The purpose of the SOGI Caucus is to promote dialogue and scholarship on engaging issues related to sexual orientation and gender identities in the communication discipline. The caucus is interdisciplinary in nature, and a range of topics are welcome: rhetorical, interpersonal, organizational, inter/cultural, performance, auto/ethnographic, media, mixed modalities, and critical scholarship. We encourage, but do not require, members to address issues related to the convention theme: Navigate-Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain. Research that centers lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, non-binary, or gender nonconforming perspectives, orientations, and populations, and moreover, translates these findings to communities outside of the academy, is more important than ever.

Our goals are to uplift voices and connect with communities as we navigate these uncertain horizons. In addition to papers and panels, the Caucus also has several special activities that it will support during the 2027 CSCA conference. We are looking to host inter-identity caucus events as well as another successful book club meeting (This year’s book is yet to be announced!). Please watch your inbox and consider following the SOGI Caucus Facebook page to learn more about these activities.

Guidelines for Submissions

• Papers: only completed papers will be accepted. We highly encourage all scholars, including new graduate students, to submit their work.
• Include a title and a brief abstract (required).
• Graduate students should type “STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
• If the paper will be a graduate student debut, please type “DEBUT STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
  • To be considered a graduate student debut paper
    • the author must be a graduate student
    • the paper must have single authorship, and
    • the paper must be the author’s first paper to be presented at CSCA.
  • If you would like your paper to be considered for the Inclusive Scholarship Award, type “INCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIP” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
    • To be considered as an exemplar of inclusive scholarship, the paper must demonstrate academic rigor in the examination of communication and historically marginalized communities/populations.
    • If you would like to be considered for this award, please clearly articulate, in at least one paragraph in your abstract, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion.
    • Additionally, be sure to select the Inclusive Scholarship option when you submit your paper.
  • Panels: Panel submissions should include a panel rationale (maximum 500 words) and a brief abstract for the conference program (maximum 75 words), and should identify a Chair, Respondent, and panelists, along with institutional affiliations. Strong preference will be given to submissions with panelists from multiple institutions.
  • Awards: The Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity (SOGI) Caucus issues several awards, including multiple Outstanding Scholarship awards and the Jimmie Manning Top Paper Award. The Manning Top Paper Award is selected from all fully completed papers submitted to the Caucus. Calls for additional award nominations will be announced at a later date.

 TECHNOLOGY REQUESTS: requests must be made at the time of submission.

SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: submissions must be received by 11:59 PM, CDT, October 9, 2026. Send submissions electronically through our CSCA online submission system site.

Have questions? Please direct them to program planner Vianna Isbister (East Tennessee State University) by emailing isbister@etsu.edu