SEMINAR DESCRIPTION

This course will surface the ways in which LGBTQ+ people and communities have impacted the ways in which mainstream American culture has been shaped by cultural production derived from thinking that challenges heteronormativity in post-World War II America until the validation of same sex marriage in 2014 Through the lenses of queer theory, evolving queer history, Since the emergence of “homosexuality” and “transsexuality” as identities in the late 19th century, queer culture has been presumed to develop in the margins of American life, ancillary to and shaped by heterosexual norms. Yet, the vast majority of queer people in the last hundred years have lived (to at least some degree) in the closet, allowing them to exist in the mainstream while maintaining a distinctly non-normative identity. Thus, to quote bell hooks, allowing them "to bring the margin into the center." In 15 meetings over the course of the semester, through lectures, discussions, texts, slides, films and video, we will explore the ways in which transformative integration of queer designs for living have occurred. Highlighting pivotal events and shifts in American cultural, political, and creative history this course will provide food for thought about the ways in queerness is integral to American notions of progress and freedom.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Sam U. February 23, 2024 “Food for Thought” Sam Uroza

 With so much of the focus in our readings and viewings being on gay men, usually those who are also part of the queer community, lesbians, bisexuals, and trans people, are not given the same amount of attention that they deserve. Even as many in the queer community pointed out, the formation of the term GLBT shows how the order of these letters correlates with how much importance that each group actually has. 

Yet, transgender people did not face an issue with visibility like the others, but rather with being recognized. The term transgender in of itself has been a topic of discussion. Some coined it as an umbrella term for anyone not conforming to societal gender norms, regardless of the person's sexuality preference. This would include transvestites, transsexuals, and intersexual people. Although this term was deliberately labeled as such as it was meant to be used in political circumstances. And in political circumstances it was used as many lesbian feminists rejected MTF individuals on political grounds. However, trans activists were able to find and create their own organizations which gave them the recognition they deserve and the grounds to support others in their community.


Trans Power: The organizer of the first National Trans Visibility March ...


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Erika Bauer - Final Project

 Link to my final project https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10M3X31MtgSnCAicMzf6pDhINFAjSNRaGX8BJnh3_9Eg/edit