1. Queer 101Queer 101Queer 101Queer 101 By Kenny & Maureen

2. Origin of queer Historical uses of the word The queer identity A little queer history lesson A little sociology lesson Queer as a verb Discussion

3. Scottish: “strange, peculiar, eccentric” Low German: “oblique, off-center” German” quer “oblique, perverse, odd” Old High German: from PIE root twerk “to turn, twist, wind”

4. Historically used to describe someone different, who exhibits behavior deemed socially inappropriate Early 20 th century: gay men in NYC began using it as a code word Became synonym for immoral, perverted, subversive

5. Throughout the 20 th century, it transformed into a derogatory term Only directed to men in receptive/passive roles in sex – Men who had the active/penetrative roles were still perceived as straight

6. 1969: anarchist, pacifist author Paul Goodman published The Politics of Being Queer – Influential in mainstream gay movement as well as the queer movement 1990: survivors of queer bashing formed Queer Nation – Anti-assimilation, direct action activist organization – “We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!” 1990s: introduction of queer theory in academia

7. All-encompassing term for the LGBTQIA community An identity Radical queer separatist movement General term for a non- normative, nonconforming individual

8. Used by people who don’t identify with any of the ‘traditional’ LGBTQIA identities or dominant norms “Queer” as the gray area in between the black & white boxes of LGBTQIA Queer as a statement of fluidity Used by people attracted to many genders, within and outside of the gender binary Used by radicals as an anti- assimilationist identity

9. Queer Identity Embraced By LGBT Community Queer Identity Embraced By LGBT Community Kenny’s Story Maureen’s Story

10. After the Stonewall Riots, the radical, anarchist Gay Liberation movement followed until the mid- 70s Mid-70s to present: gay Rights movement – Reformist – Assimilationist

11. Gay rights movement focuses on normalizing the gay & lesbian identities, assimilating into heteronormative society – Criticized for bi, trans*, genderqueer exclusion – Criticized for lack of intersectionality – Current focus: marriage rights Radical queers challenge mainstream gay politics, use the queer identity as anti- assimilationist political statement “Queer” as a form of resistance against normalization

12. Essentialist – Born with sexual desire for same sex or opposite – Gender & sex always match Constructionist – Born with undirected sex drive, shaped by experiences – Fit into either man or woman gender box, regardless of sex Postmodern – “Boxes” of essentialism and constructioinism are confining, oppressive – Sexuality & gender are fluid identities that exist on spectra

13. “To queer something, whether it’s a text, a story, or an identity, is to take a look at its foundations and question them. We can explore its limits, its biases, and its boundaries. We can look for places where there’s elasticity or discover ways we can transform it into something new. To queer is to examine our assumptions and decide which of them we want to keep, change, discard, or play with. This becomes a practice in transcending the habit of settling for pre-defined categories and creating new ones. And even when we leave something unchanged, we have changed our relationship to it.” –Charlie Glickman

14. Can a straight person be considered queer? How can we make LGBTQIA-designated spaces queer-inclusive? What are some things we can queer? What are some ways you queer your lives or ways of thinking?