QSoc Freshers Publication 2019

A Message From Your Auditor Hello and welcome to Q Soc! I’m Nathan, this year’s Auditor, and I’m so excited to introduce you to the society! Q Soc is Ireland’s oldest LGBT student society, existing even before homosexuality was decriminalised. With our roots in the Sexual Liberation Movement of the 1970s, today we still fight for the rights of our community and all its members. As the most active society on campus, there’s something for everyone. Feel free to stop by at our daily coffee hours and get some caffeine and chats between lectures, or join us for a big night out – whatever event it is, Q Soc will always strive to have it be an inclusive and fun place for all students. Being new can be terrifying, and coming over to that big rainbow stand of ours during Freshers Week even more so – but from personal experience, getting involved was one of the best decisions I have ever made (not to mention financially, you can really save a lot with all that free tea and coffee!). Whether you’re a seasoned gay from the big shmoke or questioning your identity, Q Soc will be here to provide an inclusive environment where you feel safe and free to be yourself. Our committee have been working hard to make sure this will be a fantastic year and I’m excited to share it with you all! Have an amazing Freshers Week, and I hope to see you soon!

Editor-in-Chief/Art Director Dylan Furdyk Copy Editor Jamie Panagos

Special Thanks to Arthur Cox for being the official sponsor of Q Soc for 2019/2020, and to all our sponsors who support Q Soc!

Freshers Week Event Schedule Monday Love Simon Screening - 6:30pm to 9pm - Arts Block Room 3027

Tuesday “The Great Gaysby” Accessible Coffee Hour (With Lit Soc) - 1pm to 3pm Atrium Room 4 Speed Friending - 6:30pm to 9pm - Undecided (Check Facebook)

Wednesday Mimosa Brunch (With The Phil) - 1pm to 3pm - GMB Phil Room Gaymes Night - 6:30pm to 9pm - Eliz Room in House 6

Thursday Coming Out Discussion - 3pm to 5pm - Arts Block Room 3027 Paint the Town Pink (With The Hist) - 6:30pm to 10pm Starting at GMB Hist Room

Friday Wind Down Breakfast (With the Hist) - 11am to 3pm - GMB Hist Room

A Message From Your LGBTRO Hi! My name is Thomas Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m your LGBT Rights officer for 2019/2020. I am here to ensure everyone within our community is treated equally in the grounds of Trinity. I am a second year Chemical Sciences Student so the Hamilton is my second home! If you need to reach me just drop me an email on lgbt@tcdsu.org

Historical Figures Who Were Notoriously Heterosexual ;) Written by Gilles Cooke

Erasure of queer figures throughout history has dated back to the modern study of the

female ancient Greek poet Sappho, whose intimate relationship with women has been repeatedly explained away with a heteronormative paradigm. In history, it seems to not only be ‘straight until proven gay’ but straight even after proof is presented. If our history is erased from cultural narratives, a cis, heterosexual, polite version of history is all that young people in our community will ever growing up learning. It will not be the correct, accurate history. We queer people have always been here. We may not have been in power, we may not have been liked, and we may not have always been given rights. But we have always been here, and we will always be. Here are

Fig 1 Abraham Lincoln

six people history insists are one hundred percent unquestionably cisgender and heterosexual.

While academics will trip over themselves to explain that sleeping in the same bed as

your close male friend was nothing unusual in that era, perhaps less refutable is the 1928 biography of him by Albert J. Beveridge which states that he had a male lover in his youth, which at the time of publication was universally declared as absurd. Over his life, he shared intimate living conditions with his very close friends Joshua Speed and David Derickson. While he was a lawyer on the circuit, Lincoln got himself elected for rotations which gave him as much time away from his wife as possible. Even Lincoln’s stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, commented that he

Fig 2 Frédéric François Chopin

“never took much interest in the girls”

“Your one look after every concert would be more for me than all the compliments.”

“I love you to madness. My dearest life, my soul! Give me your lips.” “Your letter was read only by me. As always I carry your letters with me. Oh, what joy it will bring me (...) to take your letter and make sure you love me, or at least to look at hand and writing of one only I can love!” These are extracts of a letter from Frédéric François Chopin to his close friend Titus. Historians insist that their letters must absolutely not be interpreted as anything within six postcodes of being literal. I say there is no heterosexual explanation for this.

This is certainly one of the more concrete names on this list. Even the historical

academiccommunity considers the sources to be more open to interpretation. Charles R. Forker once described the former Lord Chancellor and Attorney General of England as enjoying “masculine love.” His contemporary in Parliament Simond D’Ewes openly mused about a possible trial for the then crime of buggery. However, while he had an immense impact on British society, including being the first to recognize freezing meat as a way of meat preservation, Bacon’s history entirely leaves out any mention of homosexual elements.

Fig 3 Sir Francis Bacon

Fig 4 Queen Anne

This historical figure has received much recognition in the last year on account of the successful film ‘The Favourite’, exploring the intimate details of her relationship with Sarah Churchill. Historians are sure to quickly explain that she was for a time married to a man, George of Denmark. However, at the time, there was concern that Anne felt deep attachment to the women around her. When she was a girl, Anne’s father James became worried that Mary Cornwallis exercised too much influenceover her and dismissed her. Furthermore, Anne and Churchill’s relationship developed to the adoption of special pet names in a series of letters, with Anne writing “[let] me beg you not to call me your highness but be as free with me as one friend ought to be with another” “you can never give me any greater [proof] of your [friendship than] in telling me your mind freely in all things.” These letters were frequently filled with expressions of how deeply she loved Churchill.

Fig 5 King Ludwig II of Bavaria King Ludwig II of Bavaria is sometimes called the Swan King or “der Märchenkönig” (“The Fairy Tale King”). Ludwig never married, nor had any known mistresses. Since the 1860s, his diary, private letters, and other surviving personal documents have indicated that he had strong connections with the men in his life. He was not heterosexual, but many of the documents verifing this were destroyed in the Second World War. This allowed the presumption of heterosexuality to linger. Few major intellectuals were willing to say that he was not heterosexual without the caveat of “it is believed, though not confirmed.” The French writer and philosopher Voltaire, who was in London at the time of Newton’s funeral, said that the English scientist ”never had any commerce with women” while hesimultaneously enjoyed a close friendship with the Swiss

Fig 6 Isaac Newton

mathematician Nicolas Fatio de Duillier. However, scholars working on The Newton Project, which aims to put all of Newton’s writings online, says the claim of Newton’s homosexuality is “purely conjectural and much disputed.” Among other things, Newton wrote in his letters “I could wish sir to live all my life, or the greatest part of it, with you.” He may well have been asexual, and these were displays of romantic affection as opposed to sexual, or platonic as opposed to romantic, but no one has been willing to counter the idea that he was someone other than a man who was attracted to women.

Who is your Pride for? Written by Gilles Cooke Fellow queers and allies, exactly how inclusive are your traditions and events? It’s easy to craft events on the reliable pillars of men who love men, women who love women, and our transgender friends. Perhaps more complex is the thought of structuring events around nonbinary and intersex folx, as well as people of colour. However, for as much thought as planning such events must consist of, there remains, at least in the able bodied Queer communities, a common assumption of ability: the ability to navigate stairs, the ability to read a map of whatever building you are hosting your event in, the ability of the eyes, ears, and sense of touch used to appreciate the content presented.

The events listed do not have room for or accommodate all Queer people; they accommodate all abled, neurotypical, and European Queer people. The crowds present will not be at all representative of the Queer community as it exists in its various states of ability, colour and class. It will only represent the elements thereof who were able to attend. It is important to be conscious of elements which, while not generally regarded as being Queer-specific subcategories, nonetheless represent the reality of all the different colours of the rainbow, if you will, that are found in the community. Limiting the breadth of your imagination in the realm of inclusivity to only those personal qualifiers which are unique to Queer people does a disservice to people who face difficulties for reasons beyond what may be explained exclusively through a Queer lens. To then make it a challenge for these people to attend or enjoy the event seems ignorant of the history of oppression that queer people have faced.

If you only look at the multitude of subdivisions within the Queer community as a measure of inclusivity, you may gatekeep immense numbers of Queer people from these events, simply by the format or location. These people may have been otherwise eager to attend your event, but they are simply unable.

Queer people have been excluded from polite society since Jesus came out of Nazareth. They have historically been able to experience authentic relaxation and camaraderie only in dedicated Queer spaces. These spaces were designed to allow people to live as their authentic selves.

Is your event hosted up a flight of stairs? Wheelchair bound queer folx will be excluded. Is your event at the end of a complex maze of hallways? Neurodivergent queer people will struggle to make it. Is it a lecture-style talk, anywhere up to an hour? Deaf people, people with deficiencies in the processing and retention of auditory information, and people with ADHD will not get to fully appreciate it. Is it makeup advice tailored towards pale skinned Eurocentric beauty standards? Ethnic minorities will not be able to engage with or get the same experience out of it.

The creators of these spaces should not act to repeat their own exclusion on anyone lower than them on the social totem pole, especially those who seek the same comfort and authentic safety as themselves. Unfortunately, wide inclusion has not always been the norm even in queer history. In the sixties and seventies, homosexual gays and lesbians would at times intentionally exclude bisexual people from their events. Indeed, this very society was originally conceived as the Trinity Gay Society. In addition, transgender folx have not been met with accommodating tones by cisgender Queers over the years. As the Guardian notes, “For decades, a significant portion of cisgender gay advocates have mocked the idea that trans people have a place in the queer rights movement.” In this community, it would be fair to say that most people find exclusionary tactics used against them to be distasteful. If they can see the repugnance of these exclusions when used against them, why do they feel it is okay to exclude other people from inaccessible venues on grounds outside of sexuality?

Ren Hang, Visionary Queer Photographer Written by Alex Mountfield

The images produced by queer Chinese photographer Ren Hang have a lot of similarities. They all feature naked bodies in evocative arrangements. They’re all lit with blindingly stark flashbulbs. All of them are untitled. Ren’s career began in 2007 while at university in Beijing, where he picked up photography as a hobby. Many of his earliest pieces are portraits of his roommates, friends, partners, fellow artists and students. The content and subject of his work was controversial in China, although he didn’t see it that way. In Ren’s words, “I don’t really view my work as taboo, because I don’t think so much in cultural context, or political context. I don’t intentionally push boundaries, I just do what I do.” To avoid arrest or censorship, he developed and scanned his film at private studios. His artbooks and collections were published in Norway and Sweden, then smuggled back into China for illegal distribution and exhibition. He very quickly amassed a successful career and following around the world, connecting himself with many notable collaborators, including Ai Weiwei, Frank Ocean, Gucci, and Numéro. The images he produced, despite not being overtly political, are sort of revolutionary in their own way. Ultimately, his work documented queer bodies in ways that can be strange, sexual, unsettling, or theatrical, while still conveying a feeling of honesty.

Dealing with the intolerant: Where old friends disappoint Written by Gilles Cooke

The moment where you discover your friend of several months or years is ultimately a purveyor of homophobia, transphobia, or similar reactionary concepts is quite unique as an experience. All instances of these moments share some similarities; the hidden sigh as you realise that a person you felt safe around was in fact never so, the sense of a sudden divide being drawn between you and them, and an urge to excuse yourself. Of course, despite these common elements, each instance retains its unique sting, as you lose the intrapersonal lottery once again, and feel the warm glow surrounding your acquaintance freeze considerably. There is a sense of betrayal about the whole situation. You feel as if someone with whom you have taken time to build a connection has not upheld the trust you placed in them to be a good friend. Moreover, if one is not out, this notion faces a challenge; you have not informed them as to your queerness, and have, perhaps sensibly, not given them that insight into you as a person. However, while they have not betrayed any promise to accommodate your identity, I would argue that they have reneged on a more fundamental promise held between friends; to not be a shitty person. Herein lies the question; can homophobic views or similar equivalents in a person be extrapolated onto a judgement of their person? It is worth noting that regardless of whether or not you decide to judge them based on their homophobia, it is still reasonable to decide to not associate with them based on safety. In these present times, it is wholly rational to be cautious with those you hold close, for both your physical and mental safety. Putting concerns about safety aside, is it right to regard homophobic and similar beliefs as a strike against another’s character? The argument against this is well worn. Some hold the view that people’s politics are a private business that ought to be set aside, and that focusing on it is improper. Besides, a person is separate from their own views, and to judge them for it is unfair. I find this argument quite unconvincing. Fundamentally, politics is neither abstract, nor aesthetic. It is not devoid of consequence or harm. The casual repetition of bigoted talking points in in cordial conversation, whether spoken off-hand or otherwise, causes bother and emotional harm to potential queer onlookers, which could constitute anyone or everyone. They decide that voicing their opinions takes priority over the comfort and safety of friends, who for all they know could prove to be the very people they are denigrating, putting down, and denying the struggles of. While these experiences are well documented, it is worth additionally documenting the consequences, the harm. I hesitate to even go into depth on how this harm manifests, given how acutely the experiences have likely been displayed in the lives of many of the readers.

Your own experience will likely prove to be more authentic than any examples I might cite as hypothetical. For many of us, it is not hypothetical. Within the individual context, visibly queer folk may face physical violence, such as the London couple assaulted on the bus in June, or they may experience verbal harassment and invalidation, whether vicariously or directly. This brings immense stress and a distinct sense of separation from the rest of society, which contributes to the rates of depression and anxiety within the queer community. Moreover, the harm these attitudes cause are not limited to their immediate targets. With each repetition, these attitudes become more palatable in popular culture, and contribute to the isolation of queer people by virtue of the culture and norms they engender. Of course, excuses are made for this in polite society. From both my experiences discussing my own unsuccessful coming out with cisgender heterosexual friends and family and my experiences discussing the same with queer colleagues, these friends and family like to reply with “Well, you’re the first queer person they’ve known, give them time” - because being kind or respecting other humans requires some sort of primer if the other person is queer, because they may only have empathy for the queer experience once they have proximate relationships with someone affected by it. As an aside, it must be repeated, given that we are a long ways into a discussion on the appropriate response to the attitudes of homophobes, you don’t have a responsibility to educate them. You did not, when deciding to enter whatever manner of relationship with this person that it proves to be, promise to provide answers wholly at the whim and request of the homophobe, having to always be prepared to enter a discussion of your terms to defend your right to exist. But the point nonetheless remains that the harm arises, and that they have generated it. A parent’s, relative’s, or friend’s homophobia, transphobia, and so on, are not simply opinions which exist in the abstract space between a person’s ears, lacking any weight or consequence in the real world. If a queer person is affected by proximity to these queerphobic opinions and breaks contact, it would be only the most ridiculous of notions to suggest that that person was being intolerant or making “too big an issue out of such a small thing.” Such drivel only seek to maintain what the respondent deems to be “civility” and in effect enables the bigot in their bigotry. So, what is to be done? If a relationship brings you any other manner of harm, whether it be direct or indirect, if you discover that your friend has broken the social contract to be a decent person, it seems only the most intuitive thing to separate yourself from them. Because, at the end of the day, good people can make mistakes and unknowingly hurt others through ignorance. But good people don’t continue to make those same mistakes after seeing the damage they’ve caused. Good people don’t make these mistakes once educated on the real consequences, and good people don’t gaslight you on what injustices you have faced as a function of your identity. Good people don’t knowingly hurt other people. Ultimately, the block button is self care.

She

Written by Bella Knight

She told me I was an experiment: an accident with no intent An exercise in self esteem maintenance, my value lay in my provision of validation I was afraid she’d leave and afraid she’d stay I was afraid I could love a girl in that type of way Now she wants a boy, a man She told me it’s a natural progression, all a part of her plan To absolve herself of the shame of loving somebody whose body is the same And so I am left here alone, seeking reprieve Wishing I could forget midnight drinks on Christmas Eve Wishing I could forget the cautious warmth of her skin, the quiet comfort we found in committing our tentative sin Maybe I was a pawn in her game of exploration A vessel out at sea, a prompt for navigation She sailed the seas and returned to land, Squeezing my hand as she tiptoed back onto the sand.

Dear Leesha By Dave Wi

“Dear Leesha, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

I’m not trying to make excuses; I just want to explain. The letter that would change everything arrived on I’m a coward, I know that. Why don’t I just talk to you? a Tuesday. Years have passed since then, but I remember it as Why don’t I just look you in the eye and tell you what I have to say? Truth is, I’m not as brave as you are. I never if it was yesterday. Sometimes, time is funny like that. have been. Do you remember when we were 7 and I remember I was lying on my bed reading a book, when I heard Mum walking up the path to our house. Dana, Tommy and his friends kept following us? Insulting us? our dog, was barking like the world was about to crash down I wanted to run and hide, but you wouldn’t let me. ‘We and bury us all before I heard Mum’s keys opening the door. gotta fight back,’ you said, ‘We gotta show them we’re strong.’ And we did. But I could have never done that If I had known what she had had in her handbag, I would without you. Last week, you were brave, but I ran and probably have raced downstairs immediately to get it. But it was a normal day. A normal, horrible day, like all of them hid instead of being strong. You said you loved me and I panicked. You are my best friend, and I couldn’t stand were back then. the thought of losing you because you are so I tried to focus on my book, but like every day I could feel my thoughts continuously drifting further and special. I want you to know that all those horrible things I said are not true. Leesha, you are the best person I further away from my form on the bed, towards the worst know. I do like you and I’ve never meant to hurt you, day of my life. Towards Sam. I swear. It took me a while and almost losing you to We’ve known each other since forever, Sam and I. realise what this was and to accept it. I am sure you Inseparable. The promise of always. But sometimes, always know exactly what it feels like to be afraid of your own can be awfully short. Sometimes, always can end with a thoughts and feelings, when you think you are the sentence. Sometimes, always is just a word. My thoughts kept drifting towards Sam and the always that would never only person in the world going through something like that. Thinking there is something wrong with you and be. Or so I thought. trying to ignore it, to make it go away. But it won’t go Around 5 p.m., my mum called me downstairs to help her prepare dinner. We worked quietly, since neither of away, because there’s nothing wrong. I can see that now. I needed some time to realise what I want. I want you. us ever had anything to talk about. My dad sat equally You said you are in love with me and the truth is: silently in the kitchen watching the news and pointedly not paying any attention me. He never really did. Finally, when I love you, too. the lasagne was in the oven and the kitchen was clean once Always yours, more, I began to return to my room. My mum held me back. Samantha (Sam)” “Leesha,” she said, “I’ve got something for you.” Her hand held a letter out to me, and for the first time in weeks, When I think back to that day, I realise how she looked me in the eyes. lucky I am. I still have the letter at the bottom of my “Thanks mum,” I muttered with false composure, drawer. Sometimes I take it out and read it one more taking the letter and pressing down the wave of emotions time. Every time I do, I cry all over again. threatening to swallow me whole when I read my name writThen I put it gently back into the drawer, and I ten on the white envelope in neat, bold letters that made my go downstairs to greet my wife and to heart jump. There was no sender, but I knew that handwritwhisper into her ear. ing. I could recognise it anywhere. “I love you too, Sam. Always.” I remember my legs shaking as I climbed the stairs back up to my room, my hands trembling as I carefully opened the envelope, my breathing coming short as I stared at the letter.

QROSSWORD PUZZLE Made by Blaise Ferguson

ACROSS: 5. TV show about the ballroom scene in 1980’s New York created by the producers of Glee 6. Accessory notably used by gay men in their back pocket toindicate their sexual preferences 9. DC Comics superhero born “Katherine Kane” who is canonically married to detective Maggie Sawyer 11. Greek poet from the island of Lesbos 12. (2 words) Netflix reality show starring five hosts who are referred to as the “Fab Five” 13. (2 words) City where the historic Stonewall Inn is located

DOWN: 1. (2 words) Trans activist and actress who rose to fame after her role on the TV show “Orange is the New Black” 2. (2 words) Lesbian singer-songwriter whose hits include the songs “1950” and “Pussy is God” 3. (2 words) Director of the hit lesbian film, Carol (2015). 4. (2 words) American pop muscian sometimes referred to as “Lesbian Jesus” 7. The first name of the openly gay California senator that the movie “Milk” is about 8. Nickname of Oscar Wilde’s former lover, Robbie Ross 10. Last name of the protagonist of the movie “Love, Simon”

13.NewYork 9. Batwoman 10. Spier 11. Sappho 12. Queer Eye 4. Hayley Kiyoko 5. Pose 6. Handkerchief 7.Havey 8. Bosie ANSWERS: 1. Laverne Cox 2. King Princess 3.Todd Haynes

Meet the Committee Auditor Nathan (he/they) Nathan is a third year Law student. He can’t snap or whistle and his backpack is ideally filled with condoms, dental dams, and lube to hand out. According to Nathan, Trinfess would say that Nathan dresses himself like “the flamboyant kweer ruining it for the rest of the Normal Gays TM.” He is looking forward to being impeached from Q Soc Committee.

Secretary Luca (he/him) Luca is a third year Law student. You can spot his patterned shirt and perfectly curled hair from across campus. His favorite color is emerald green which may or may not be because his favorite movie is Fried Green Tomatoes. Correlation or causation? The world will never know. Unrelated but interesting: Luca’s celebrity look-alike is Conrad Ricamora.

Treasurer Éanna-Ruairí (he/they) Ruairí is a third year Biology student. The best way to get on his good side is to ask to have a height contest and then, without even standing up, proclaim that you win. Because you will win. Ruairí has the impressive skill of being able to solve a Rubik’s cube in under a minute. You might see him around campus wearing a buttoned shirt and big boots so he looks taller. You would still win the height contest.

Public Relations Officer Dylan (they/them) Dylan is a third year Psychology student. People don’t say they look like Michael D. Higgins. Their favorite colors are bright blue and pastel pink, two colors which are not forgotten in their vibrant outfits. When they are not making countless posters for Q Soc events and putting together the Quab, Dylan can usually be found consuming copious amounts of nicotine outside House 6.

Inclusions Officer Dave (they/them) Dave is a third year Sociology and Social Policy student. You may find them asleep in the Q Soc room in House 6. If you manage to stumble upon them when they’re awake, be sure to tell them a joke or two because they claim to not know any. Let’s start them off with this joke contributed by both Nathan and Dylan: “I’m sick of working at the can-crushing factory… My job is soda-pressing.” Webmaster Blaise (they/them) Blaise is a third year Psychology student. Even though they have what sounds like an American accent, they are 100% from Singapore. You may see them on campus wearing only black, but you will know it is them by their weed-patterned socks. Their favorite word to say is fuck (swearing is bad, kids). They own Airpods and never leave the house without their phone and laptop. Amenities Officer Ais (any pronouns) Ais is a third year Philosophy student whose love for Kirby can be found not only in the Quab’s Gallery of Fun Arts section but also in her drawings of Kirby consistently present in every corner of the Q Soc room in House 6. On a different note, Ais is currently trying to make everyone they know watch We Need to Talk about Kevin. They have seen it 12 times so far. Liaison Officer Alex (he/him) Alex is a second year BESS student whose favorite color, equally boring, is bred (brown-red). It is a commonly known fact that he looks EXACTLY like Randall from Monster’s Inc. Be sure to ask him if you can watch the home video where he eats a whole sleeve of Oreos and then vomits. Librarian Jamie (they/them) Jamie is a second year TSM Psychology and Sociology student. Their hobbies include writing bad committee bios and biting ice cream. You may see them around campus occasionally, but really they spend just way too much time indoors.

Ordinary Committee Member Gilles (they/them) Gilles is a second year Law student which really explains how they gained the impressive skill of retaining their job after not showing up to it without explanation for two months. You can probably catch them around campus questioning the system in a lot of shirts with suspenders.

Ordinary Committee Member Sunetra (she/her) Sunetra is a second year TSM Psychology and Economics student. If you are looking for her, try yelling “Look, a dog!” Do not be afraid when someone whose wardrobe resembles that of an overgrown child emerges from the shadows to wave at it. Sunetra would literally adopt 40 dogs and cats.

Ordinary Committee Member Vismante (she/her) Vismante is a third year Sociology and Social Policy student. It might be hard to spot her on campus because you’ll confuse her positivity for a literal ray of sunshine. Her favorite joke is: What has four legs but cannot walk? My fridge, but it does run sometimes.

Ordinary Committee Member Con (she/her) Con is a second year TSM Art History and Architecture and Sociology student (that’s a mouthful) and easily the coolest person on committee. You may see her on campus occasionally, in an all-black outfit featuring combat boots and a nose ring. Fun fact: her heart is from London!