The Queer Query
Volume 9 Issue 3
Gender Awareness Days
Table of Contents Page 3 - T.A.G interview
Pages 4-5 - Every Day book Interview Pages 6-7 - Did You Know? Page 8-9 Ads
Page 10- Save the Date
T.A.G
An interview with Luke Grabski
What is T.A.G?
TAG is the Trans* Awareness Group on campus. This is for trans*identified (anyone who doesn’t solely identify with their gender assigned at birth) folks in the area who want a sense of community. The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at 8:00pm in 107 Hanna Hall. TAG is very discussionbased, and is a safe place for people to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences with others. Currently, we’re asking that, unless otherwise advertised, only trans* folks (this includes genderfluid, genderqueer, questioning folks, etc.) join us – from there, those joining us are more than welcome to bring a +1 (who may or may not identify as trans*).
What is the difference between Gender and Sexuality?
Gender is about how you identify yourself within the contexts of the world around you. Gender can be as personal as the pronouns and name(s) you’d prefer others to address you by, to as impersonal as the stereotypes and forms of oppressions imposed upon groups of people who identify certain ways. Gender is not dependent on genitalia, chromosomes, or anything biological. Gender is how you feel. Sexuality, on the other hand, has to do with how you interact with others. Sexuality can include who you want to have intimate relationships with, or if you have a desire for or ability to have certain types of relationships at all. Sexuality can be very open and fluid, very specific and concrete, attraction-based or sexual in nature or not at all. Much like gender, sexuality has infinite possibilities and is dependent on the person experiencing and identifying with it.
In your opinion, Why is the Trans* Community included in the LGBTQ+ Acronym is it’s about gender?
I think there’s a lot of reasons that keep the T* in LGBTQ+, but the one that I’ll dive into is the fact that the focus on sexual orientation on a mainstream level is very much intertwined with gender. Thinking of “gay marriage,” how would a marriage be classified as one that is “gay” without gender? What would homosexuality or heterosexuality be without gender? As we transcend this idea (with folks who are identifying as queer, pansexual, and other ways that don’t form directly around particular genders), there are still gender norms that LGBQ+ folks deal with pertaining to gender. Feminine men are seen immediately as gay, masculine women are seen immediately as lesbians. “Fag” and “dyke” are used as insults because of the coexistence and intersectionality of gender/gender expression and sexual orientation. The two are intertwined and cannot be separated. There’s much more that goes into this, including histories of trans* activism as well as more personal similarities between the LGBQ and T* experiences, but I think their interconnectedness really drives the inclusion of it in the LGBTQ+ acronym.
How could someone become a better Advocate or Ally to the Trans* Community?
Do the work. Support trans* leaders and trans* programming. Continue to educate yourself as new opportunities arise, and in turn, educate others. Speak on behalf of trans* folks when we don’t have a voice or platform (if you’re educated enough to do
so), and listen to trans* folks when we do. Work to understand how intersectionality and experiences with privilege and oppression stack up on some trans* folks. Recognize the ways in which you might be privileged because of your gender identity and/or gender expression, and do something about it. Empower trans* people when we come out, don’t invalidate us or invade our privacy. Encourage trans* leadership and development. Give trans* people spaces to grow and learn. Educate yourself about trans*-exclusive policies, healthcare, laws and join the movements already in place.
What other resources does provide or want to provide in the future? The LGBT Resource Center has some great books about gender. Laverne Cox has a new show called The T Word that delves into trans* experiences really well, which is available on LOGO TV. Vision is a good place to go for trans*-inclusive discussions. There are many trans* people who’ve taken to youtube to discuss their trans* identities and experiences, and some channels that focus on intersecting identities and experiences as well (such as channels for trans* folks of color) that are worth watching.
Every Day
A book review by Shannon Maloney
by David Levithan
Every Day By David Levithan The 2012 young adult novel Every Day by David Levithan tells the story of A, a being who never stays in one body for more than a day. All sixteen years of A’s life have been like this, waking up in a stranger’s body and living their life for a day. A always dealt with this as a part of life, never stepping out of line, going through the same motions the body normally would. This all works out fine until A winds up in the body of Justin and falls for Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. After meeting her, A must make a decision; break the rules or leave behind true love? “In my experience, desire is desire, love is love. I have never fallen in love with a gender. I have fallen for individuals. I know this is hard for people to do, but I don’t understand why it’s so hard, when it’s so obvious.” – A, Every Day I found Every Day fascinating. In Levithan’s novel he introduces us to an entirely new way of looking at the body. He makes his readers think about the judgments we pass every single day just by looking at someone’s outside appearance. In particular, he makes us examine the way we connect love and gender. When observing gender we often find ourselves instinctively looking from the outside in. We can see Levithan throwing in his own views on the matter through A, but his reasoning is so rational that we can’t help but stand behind his main character. Every time Rhiannon became distracted by the fact that A showed up as a girl or an overweight boy I found myself (mostly internally) booing her; despite the fact that I could completely understand where she was coming from. In today’s society we are trained to think that what is on the outside defines what is inside. When we see a female we assume she must have feminine thoughts and feelings. We are shocked to see a manly man show emotions or a woman going to work in bright yellow construction hat. But what if we begin to see the bodies as a shell; a Tupperware container for our souls. Would we then begin to view gender differently as well? A is a being who has experienced life from all different perspectives and doesn’t understand the harsh lines drawn between them. To A, love is love and that is all that matters. Rhiannon on the other hand is representative of society. She finds it difficult to see past A’s ever-changing body types, even though he is the same on the inside each and every day. In order to see the world as A sees it the definition of gender must change. We can no longer judge books by their cover, we must get to know their pages. Read the words. Smell the musty scents of a well-loved hardback. Feel the way the pages bend and sway beneath our fingertips. We must learn to love from the inside to the outside. For A it took walking the world in thousands of shoes. Rhiannon had to find out about her own individual before she could see others’. What change can you make to begin to see the individual, not the packaging it comes in? http://davidlevithan.com/every-day-2/
Did You Know?
The LGBT Resource Center takes the initiative to make sure that there is information and resources available for students and faculty across campus. One way we are trying to do this is by informing people of uncommon facts and underepresented identities in the community. This section is simply just a quick way for us to say to you “Hey, did you know that.....?� This months section highlights the sexual identities of Skoliosexual and Banjee.
Skoliosexual
Skoliosexuality is a sexual identity that has been growing within the LGBTQ+ community. As of now its a smaller community in the LGBTQ+ community when it comes to publicity, but what can be found online is helpful. The definition of Skoliosexual is somone who is sexually attracted to those who do not identify within the gender binary.
One of the proposed ideas for the Skoliosexual Flag
Banjee
Banjee is a term that was developed by the Latin@ community and Black Community who were also a part of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. Over the years it has been adapted to different sections of the LGBTQ+ community. This article is specifically talking about its origins and what it meant originally. Banjee is a term to descibe males who are attracted to males but still portray themselves in a very masculine way. Usually called Bajee Boys, they are frequently closeted either fully or partially. Queens in the area would call newcomers to the community this as a descriptor. Banjee is also a term that has been prominent in vogue balls since the 1980’s. In the documentary Paris is Burning, which is about the culture of Vogue and vogue balls, they use the term Banjee Realness during an awards ceremony to describe someone. Banjee started to die out as a word after the early 1990’s but is still sometimes used today.
Native American Heritage Month Learning from Native Americans’ Past and Present Public lecture by Matika Wilbur, Native American Artist/Photographer Sponsored by School of Cultural & Critical Studies Wednesday, November 5, 2014 │ 4:00PM-5:30 PM [BTSU Theater]
Traditional Native American Blessing Ceremony and Reflection Facilitated by Dr. Lynda Dixon Monday, November 17, 2014 │ 3:00-4:00 PM [BTSU 316]
Native American Academic and Research Presentation Series Tuesday, November 18, 2014
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2:00-5:00 PM [BTSU 314]
2:00 - 3:00 PM Growing Up Cherokee in the White World Presented by Dr. Lynda Dixon 3:10 - 3:45 PM Native American Narratives: Moving & Touching the Earth With Words Presented by Dr. Barbara Mauter 3:45 - 4:00 PM [Break and Refreshments] 4:00 - 4:30 PM The Indian Home in Turn of the Century Civilization Debates Presented by Erin Mulligan 4:30 - 5:00 PM Bicultural Education Programs in Postcolonial Settings Presented by Emily Diamond
The Head Chef Presents “American Indian Cuisines” Tuesday, November 18, 2014
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All day at the Oak Dining Hall
Screening “Our Fires Still Burn” with Producer Audrey Geyer Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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5:30-7:30 PM [The Gish Theater, Hanna Hall]
Native American Arts and Crafts Making and Demonstration Demonstrated by Sarah Dawn Ryan Thursday, November 20, 2014 │ 6:00-8:00 PM [Olscamp 120]
The Code Talkers of World War II Facilitated by Dr. Spintz Harrison Friday, November 21, 2014 │ 5:30-7:00 PM [Olscamp 120] Math Science Building, Room 318-B Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 / Tel: 419-372-2642 www.bgsu.edu/oma
The Identity Project Committee
Identity Project Sponsors:
Judy Miller, Community Activist and Chair
BGSU: School of Art
Jacqui Nathan, Gallery Director
Counseling Center
Alice Calderonello, Professor Emeritus, English
Provost
Todd Childers, Associate Professor, School of Art Marce Dupay, Instructor, School of Art Karen Ann Grajczyk, Graduate Student
University Libraries School of Cultural and Critical Studies
Mary Krueger, Director, Women’s Center
Theatre & Film Department
Elizabeth Yarris, Counseling Center (retired)
Friday November 7, 2014
English Department
Wellness Connection
Ginny Stewart, owner of Ginny’s Inspired Fashions
INvestigatingIDentity: a symposium
Student Affairs
Linda Katzner, Community Member
Lesa Lockford, Professor Theatre and Film
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Women’s Center Wood County District Public Library ClaZel Theater
Faith Yingling, Director of Wellness, Recreation and Wellness (Wellness Connection)
The Identity Project is a university and community–wide collaboration that keynotes the relationship between self–disclosure, especially of highly personal information, and identity formation, as well as the tension between personal privacy and safety/surveillance
Please indicate if you need special services, assistance or accommodations to fully participate in this program by contacting Jacqui Nathan at 419-372-8525. Please notify us at least ten (10) days in advance.
Bowen–Thompson Student Union Third Floor u Free & Open to the Public u Morning Coffee Provided in Room 308 u Parking Passes for Visitors to Campus available at: Ginny’s Inspired Fashions and Grounds For Thought in downtown BG
Save The Date
Here you will find most of the information you would need to contact LGBT related orgs on campus for any additional information feel free to stop in the LGBT resource center or email the organization that you are trying to acquire information from.
LGBT Resource center
Vision
• Archie Bunker Nov. 10th: Everybody Hates Gender Event with SMART, With topics including Drag, Selfies, and BSU,LSU, and HUE Race, the panel participants will talk about (Multipurpose how gender is performed in various facets Room 8-10pm) of everyday life and how that performance influences us. 6pm-7:45pm in BTSU 314
Nov. 11th : Showing of Laverne Cox’s film The T Word Hosted by Laverne Cox, this one-hour documentary takes viewers inside the lives of seven trans* youth. 8pm in the Women’s Center Nov. 18th : Gender Pop With topics including Horror Films, Gamergate, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Romance Novels. The panel participants will look at how gender is constructed and policed in popular culture. 6pm-7:45pm in Business Admin 1000 Nov 20th : Transgender Day Of Remembrance Join us as we remember the victims of anti-trans* violence on this nationally marked day.
HUE
• Archie Bunker Event with SMART, BSU,LSU, and Vision (Multipurpose Room 8-10pm)
TAG • General Body Meeting 8pm (Oct 11th) • Trans* Day of Remembarance
UMS • General Body Meeting 8pm (Nov 18th)