Tag Archives: queer

Key Facts About Trans People

Cis (i.e., cisgender) refers to people who identify with their assigned sex and gender at birth. If you’re not trans, you are usually cis and have cis privilege. A trans man, for example, is usually best seen as someone who was always a man, but we must be cautious of strategic essentialism and remember sex/genderContinue reading “Key Facts About Trans People”

The Power of Names

As I have written about before, no one is born voluntarily. Additionally, as soon as we open our eyes and see light and the doctor arbitrarily announces “it’s a boy” or “it’s a girl,” we are involuntarily assigned a series of names that we are forever associated with. Changing one’s name is an extremely difficultContinue reading “The Power of Names”

Longing for a Queered ACLU

This is the type of article I am always hesitant to write and publish because the American Civil Liberties Union, or the ACLU, has done incredible work for decades. I am a proud member of the ACLU. But, someone has to write about such…. The ACLU is one of the main organizations that is consistently workingContinue reading “Longing for a Queered ACLU”

“What if we reject the social construction of the tickets?” – Adventures Reviewing for the Midterm Exam

Today my students and I in Introduction to Queer Studies spent the class period reviewing for the Midterm Exam. We’ve covered a ton of material the past eight weeks! I tried a new method of reviewing today, and it worked beautifully, overall! It was exhausting for me! Each student who was there on time gotContinue reading ““What if we reject the social construction of the tickets?” – Adventures Reviewing for the Midterm Exam”

A Look Inside My Introduction to Queer Studies Classes: Poetry and Identity

Today my wonderful students in both sections of Introduction to GLBT Studies (or Queer Studies) at the University of Houston explored various aspects of identity!  We started off by listening to and discussing a variety of performance poems: “Until We Could,” “Lost Voices,” and “For Anyone Who’s Been Told it’s ‘Just a Phase’.” Then weContinue reading “A Look Inside My Introduction to Queer Studies Classes: Poetry and Identity”

Getting it (Mostly) Wrong: AJP’s Take on National Geographic’s January 2017 Special Issue on Gender

While I understand that capitalism pressures even the best media or educational outlets to satisfy its audiences, this does not excuse the distribution of misleading or inaccurate information. One of the biggest problem with National Geographic‘s special issue on gender is that it is not really so much about gender as it is about sexContinue reading “Getting it (Mostly) Wrong: AJP’s Take on National Geographic’s January 2017 Special Issue on Gender”

“La Mission” (2009): Ubiquitous Mammy and White Savior Characters

I figure a great way to start 2017 is with a blog! In preparation for planning and teaching Mexican American History II this Spring 2017 semester, I gave Petter Bratt’s La Mission (2009) another view this evening. Watch the trailer here. (I’m trying to select a few of the best movies for us to examine. There’s notContinue reading ““La Mission” (2009): Ubiquitous Mammy and White Savior Characters”