DOCSLIB.ORG

"Born This Way": Reconsidering Trans Narratives

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Northern Iowa University of Northern Iowa UNI ScholarWorks Dissertations and Theses @ UNI Student Work 2019 Beyond "Born This Way": Reconsidering trans narratives Ashley Elizabeth Meyers University of Northern Iowa Copyright ©2019 Ashley Elizabeth Meyers Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Recommended Citation Meyers, Ashley Elizabeth, "Beyond "Born This Way": Reconsidering trans narratives" (2019). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 982. https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/982 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Work at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations and Theses @ UNI by an authorized administrator of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Copyright by ASHLEY ELIZABETH MEYERS 2019 All rights reserved BEYOND “BORN THIS WAY”: RECONSIDERING TRANS NARRATIVES An Abstract of a Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Ashley Elizabeth Meyers University of Northern Iowa July 2019 ABSTRACT When most Americans hear the words “trans” or “transgender”, celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner, Chaz Bono, or Laverne Cox likely come to mind along with their highly public stories of medical and social transition. While these celebrity representations have served to increase visibility for the trans community throughout the United States over the past decade, trans representation remains limited in terms of intersectionality and a narrow focus on celebrity stories and themes of essentialization, dysphoria, and medical transition. At the same time, research on trans narratives also remains focused almost exclusively on trans women and men who experience dysphoria and undergo medical transition. This leaves the following questions: What are the consequences of such a narrow focus on only one kind of trans story within the media? How did the representations we know today develop in the first place? What are the experiences of trans people who do not fit into the dominant narrative like? What can we learn from these experiences, representations, and histories in terms of theory and activism? To answer these questions, in this thesis I will present a qualitative textual analysis of interviews with seven trans people from various backgrounds on their gendered life experiences and compare them to trans celebrity narratives, historical narratives, and alternative narratives trans people have formed for themselves. While the stories collected and analyzed in this study are not generalizable to all trans people, as case studies they will enhance our knowledge of trans narratives, experiences, and identities. BEYOND “BORN THIS WAY”: RECONSIDERING TRANS NARRATIVES A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Ashley Elizabeth Meyers University of Northern Iowa July 2019 ii This Study by: Ashley Elizabeth Meyers Entitled: Beyond “Born This Way”: Reconsidering Trans Narratives has been approved as meeting the thesis requirement for the Degree of Master of Arts ______________ _____________________________________________________ Date Dr. Carolyn Hildebrandt, Chair, Thesis Committee ______________ _____________________________________________________ Date Dr. Heather Jeronimo, Thesis Committee Member ______________ ______________________________________________________ Date Dr. Benjamin Baker, Thesis Committee Member ______________ ______________________________________________________ Date Dr. Jennifer Waldron, Dean, Graduate College iii DEDICATION For my loving grandmothers, JamieAnn and Peggy Meyers, who taught me the importance of personal narratives. And for my mother, who inadvertently helped to inspire this project. And to everyone who shared their stories with me and made this project possible. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Carolyn Hildebrandt, for sharing her expertise as a seasoned researcher. This project would not have been possible without her diligence and care as an advisor. I would also like to thank Dr. Benjamin Baker for sharing his expertise in narrative theory and practical advice on interviewing methods. The interviews presented in this thesis benefited tremendously from his presence. I would also like to thank Dr. Jeronimo for her invaluable input on the theoretical foundations on which this project is built. Her insights added greater depth to my analysis and understanding of trans narratives and identities. This project would not be what it has become without the efforts and support of such an interdisciplinary, expert, and committed committee behind me. I would also like to thank my participants for their willingness to speak with me and put their stories out there. Without them I would have no stories to tell. Also, I would like to thank my cohort, who were there through every step of the process and supported me as peers in countless and unique ways. I also would like to thank my parents and grandmothers for their support and unconditional love. They were always there to cheer me on when I needed it most. Finally, I also wish to acknowledge all the feminist, queer, gender non- conforming, and trans theorists and activists, known and unknown, that have gone before me. It is because of them and their tireless work and sacrifices in the name of justice that I have the privilege of conducting this research in an era of relative visibility, openness, and safety. Today I stand on their gigantic shoulders. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................11 Queer Trans Feminist Theory, Trans Identities and Narratives ..................................11 The Literature on Trans Narratives .............................................................................19 Historical “Trans” Narratives ......................................................................................25 Trans Celebrity Narratives ...........................................................................................39 Alternative Narratives .................................................................................................46 CHAPTER 3. METHODS .................................................................................................53 Oral History .................................................................................................................53 Participants ...................................................................................................................54 Procedure .....................................................................................................................56 Narrative Analysis .......................................................................................................59 CHAPTER 4. ANALYSIS ................................................................................................64 “Caitlyn Jenner is Fine, But…”: Introducing Trans Narratives Beyond the Celebrities and Themes of Essentialization, Dysphoria, and Binary Medical Transition .....................................................................................................................64 “You’re Full of Phases”: The Fluidity of Identities in the Narrated Experiences of Trans People ............................................................................................................65 “Twitter and Tumblr Are Your Friends”: The Role of Online Platforms in the Gendered Self-Discovery Narratives of Young Trans People in the Early Twenty-First Century ...................................................................................................72 vi “What Makes Me Trans is the Euphoria and How I Identify”: Trans People’s Narrated Experiences of Gender Euphoria and the Meaning of Transness .................75 “It’s Different for Everyone”: The Process of Transition in the Narrated Experiences of Nonbinary People and Their Trans Men and Women Counterparts ................................................................................................................85 “My Blackness Informs My Transness”: Intersectionality in the Narrated Experiences of Trans People .......................................................................................92 “None of These Labels Work Anymore”: The Intersections of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation, Heteronormativity, and Gatekeeping in the Narrated Experiences of Trans People .......................................................................................98 “If I Were in Charge…”: Directions for Future Representation as Conceived by Participants ................................................................................................................103 CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................110 WORKS CITED ..............................................................................................................116 APPENDIX A. GLOSSARY OF TERMS ......................................................................120
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Transgender Representation on American Narrative Television from 2004-2014
    TRANSJACKING TELEVISION: TRANSGENDER REPRESENTATION ON AMERICAN NARRATIVE TELEVISION FROM 2004-2014 A Dissertation Submitted to the Temple University Graduate Board In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Kelly K. Ryan May 2021 Examining Committee Members: Jan Fernback, Advisory Chair, Media and Communication Nancy Morris, Media and Communication Fabienne Darling-Wolf, Media and Communication Ron Becker, External Member, Miami University ABSTRACT This study considers the case of representation of transgender people and issues on American fictional television from 2004 to 2014, a period which represents a steady surge in transgender television characters relative to what came before, and prefigures a more recent burgeoning of transgender characters since 2014. The study thus positions the period of analysis as an historical period in the changing representation of transgender characters. A discourse analysis is employed that not only assesses the way that transgender characters have been represented, but contextualizes American fictional television depictions of transgender people within the broader sociopolitical landscape in which those depictions have emerged and which they likely inform. Television representations and the social milieu in which they are situated are considered as parallel, mutually informing discourses, including the ways in which those representations have been engaged discursively through reviews, news coverage and, in some cases, blogs. ii To Desmond, Oonagh and Eamonn For everything. And to my mother, Elaine Keisling, Who would have read the whole thing. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Throughout the research and writing of this dissertation, I have received a great deal of support and assistance, and therefore offer many thanks. To my Dissertation Chair, Jan Fernback, whose feedback on my writing and continued support and encouragement were invaluable to the completion of this project.
    [Show full text]
  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity Presents
    Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Office of Diversity presents Friday Film Series 2012-2013: Exploring Social Justice Through Film All films begin at 12:00 pm on the Chicago campus. Due to the length of most features, we begin promptly at noon! All films screened in Daniel Hale Williams Auditorium, McGaw Pavilion. Lunch provided for attendees. September 14 – Reel Injun by Neil Diamond (Cree) http://www.reelinjunthemovie.com/site/ Reel Injun is an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through a century of cinema. Travelling through the heartland of America and into the Canadian North, Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond looks at how the myth of “the Injun” has influenced the world’s understanding – and misunderstanding – of Natives. With clips from hundreds of classic and recent films, and candid interviews with celebrated Native and non-Native directors, writers, actors, and activists including Clint Eastwood, Robbie Robertson, Graham Greene, Adam Beach, and Zacharias Kunuk, Reel Injun traces the evolution of cinema’s depiction of Native people from the silent film era to present day. October 19 – Becoming Chaz by Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato http://www.chazbono.net/becomingchaz.html Growing up with famous parents, constantly in the public eye would be hard for anyone. Now imagine that all those images people have seen of you are lies about how you actually felt. Chaz Bono grew up as Sonny and Cher’s adorable golden-haired daughter and felt trapped in a female shell. Becoming Chaz is a bracingly intimate portrait of a person in transition and the relationships that must evolve with him.
    [Show full text]
  • Talking Book Topics November-December 2016
    Talking Book Topics November–December 2016 Volume 82, Number 6 About Talking Book Topics Talking Book Topics is published bimonthly in audio, large-print, and online formats and distributed at no cost to participants in the Library of Congress reading program for people who are blind or have a physical disability. An abridged version is distributed in braille. This periodical lists digital talking books and magazines available through a network of cooperating libraries and carries news of developments and activities in services to people who are blind, visually impaired, or cannot read standard print material because of an organic physical disability. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including bestsellers, classics, biographies, romance novels, mysteries, and how-to guides. Some books in Spanish are also available. To explore the wide range of books in the national collection, visit the NLS Union Catalog online at www.loc.gov/nls or contact your local cooperating library. Talking Book Topics is also available in large print from your local cooperating library and in downloadable audio files on the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) site at https://nlsbard.loc.gov. An abridged version is available to subscribers of Braille Book Review. Library of Congress, Washington 2016 Catalog Card Number 60-46157 ISSN 0039-9183 About BARD Most books and magazines listed in Talking Book Topics are available to eligible readers for download. To use BARD, contact your cooperating library or visit https://nlsbard.loc.gov for more information.
    [Show full text]
  • Jimmy Olsen, Cub Reporter Gay TV Icon Passes Away
    September 30, 2015 local name vol. 6 // issue 39 global coverage s o u t h f l o r i d a g a y n e wsw s Jimmy Olsen, Cub Reporter Gay TV icon passes away SFGN takes part in annual lgbt history month Pages 23 - 24, 26, 28 - 29 Southern Comfort Conference begins, page 13 • RentBoy coalition, Page 20 • Reverse Quinceanera, Page 30 SOUTHFLORIDAGAYNEWS SOFLAGAYNEWS SFGN.COM SouthFloridaGayNews.com Comments from SFGN’s THE OPENING LINE online outlets SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 • VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 39 Compiled by John McDonald 2520 N. DIXIE HIGHWAY •WILTON MANORS, FL 33305 PHONE: 954-530-4970 FAX: 954-530-7943 Photos: Facebook. PUBLISHER • NORM KENT Justice Antonin Scalia on HUCKABEE CONDEMNS [email protected] CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER • PIER ANGELO GUIDUGLI same-sex marriage ruling ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER /EXECUTIVE EDITOR • "the furthest imaginable RAINBOW COLORED DORITOS JASON PARSLEY extension of the Supreme Court [email protected] doing whatever it wants." Editorial Sandy McLendon – ART DIRECTOR • BRENDON LIES [email protected] Luimar Zibetti Garza – Good grief! We DESIGNER • MARTIN GOULD sorta like civil rights, black have issues with [email protected] and white marriage, suffrage income, health DESIGNER • CHARLES PRATT - all rather "irrelevant" issues care, immigration, INTERNET DIRECTOR • DENNIS JOZEFOWICZ - even for a LIVING document tax reform and the [email protected] as IS the Constitution. yousa EDITORIAL ASSISTANT • JILLIAN MELERO abringa chame to dee italian environment, and [email protected] Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore.
    [Show full text]
  • Crossing the Road, Or What's a Nice Lesbian Feminist Like You Doing in a Place Like This?
    NARRATIVES Crossing the Road, or What's a Nice Lesbian Feminist Like You Doing in a Place Like This? This narrative follows the author's journey in teaching Leslie Feinberg's Stone Butch Blues and teaching about the death of Brandon Teena, a person born biologically female but who lived a chosen male identity and who was murdered in Nebraska for that choice. Through reading, class discussion, student journals, and especially events such as the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, speeches by transgender activists, and a rally in support of Brandon Teena, the author moves in her teaching from "add transgender and stir" to a conceptual framework which affects the way she sees everything. Her teaching transforms her. by tiven when I am reluc- "womyn-born-womyn" were Barbara DiBernard tant to follow, my teaching leads allow^ed, excluding transsexual me to the places I need to go. women. I had followed the de- Barbara DiBernard teaches One sunny day in the summer bate in the national lesbian women's literature at the of 1994 I found myself leaving press, but I remained unmoved, University of Nebraska at the grounds of the Michigan sure in my identity politics that Lincoln, where she is also Womyn's Music Festival and I knew what both "woman" and Director of the Women's crossing the county road to "lesbian" meant. I agreed with Studies Program. "Camp Trans," a camp of the argument that male to fe- transgender people and their male transsexuals had been so- allies who were there to protest cialized as males, and therefore the Festival's exclusion of trans- would still be male in some im- sexual women.
    [Show full text]
  • Autobiography, Transsexual by Brett Genny Beemyn
    Autobiography, Transsexual by Brett Genny Beemyn Encyclopedia Copyright © 2015, glbtq, Inc. Entry Copyright © 2006 glbtq, Inc. Reprinted from http://www.glbtq.com The cover of the Cleis Press edition of Christine Over the last 75 years, transsexual individuals have published autobiographies not only Jorgensen's widely-read to tell or to clarify the stories of their lives, but also to educate others in an effort to autobiography. gain greater acceptance for transgender people. Courtesy Cleis Press. Many of the early autobiographies were written by transsexual women whose gender identities had been revealed by the press. Forced into the media spotlight because they were transsexual, their work often served as a response to the stereotypes and misinformation circulated about their experiences. But in the last decade, as the existence of transsexual individuals has become less of a novelty to much of society, transsexual women autobiographers have been able to shift their focus from challenging sensationalized portrayals of their personal lives to creating a public image that reflects how they understand their gender identities. Although comparatively fewer autobiographies have been published by transsexual men as opposed to transsexual women, a growing number of such works in the last few years has led to a greater recognition of the diversity of transsexual identities. Early Transsexual Autobiographies Given the unprecedented news coverage that Christine Jorgensen received beginning in 1952 for being the first person from the United States publicly known to have had a "sex change," it is not surprising that her 1967 life story would be the most widely known among the early transsexual autobiographies.
    [Show full text]
  • School Diversity Week Toolkit Table of Contents
    School Diversity Week Toolkit Table of Contents Introduction 3 About us 4 Holding an event 7 Ideas Bank 8 Set up a Social Action Team 9 Event Checklist 11 Run a Rainbow Ribbon Campaign 13 Social Media 14 Primary School Lesson Plans 16 Secondary School Lesson Plans 23 Other resources 36 Debates 37 LGBT+ Quiz 38 Famous LGBT+ People 45 LGBT+ Facts 46 Legislative Reforms 47 Primary School Books 48 Secondary School Books 51 Further Reading 54 Spoken Word 54 PSHE Films 55 LGBT+ Films 57 LGBT+ Documentaries 60 Building on School Diversity Week 63 Explaining School Diversity Week 66 Email to Governors 67 Email to Parents/Carers 68 FAQ for Parents/Carers 69 Draft Press Release 71 Introduction We’re absolutely delighted that you’re joining the Just Like Us team across the UK in championing lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) equality during School Diversity Week 2018. We’ve created this toolkit with help from our Teacher Advisory Group to make celebrating School Diversity Week as easy as possible. It includes: • Easy-to-use ideas for school-wide events celebrating LGBT+ equality • Advice on empowering your students to set up a Social Action Team • KS1-KS4 lesson plans covering LGBT+ issues • Subject specific lesson plans • Extracurricular resources including facts, book lists, articles, films and videos • FAQs to help explain the aims of the week • Letter templates about your school’s involvement for parents, staff and governors This toolkit will help you plan the week to suit your school’s needs. We’ve been inspired to hear about what so many schools already have planned and we’re looking forward to hearing from many more of you over the next few weeks.
    [Show full text]
  • Portland, Oregon
    TIM TO THRIVE PROMOTING SAFETY, INCLUSION AND WELL-BEING FOR LGBTQ YOUTH…EVERYWHERE! FEBRUARY 13-15, 2015 PORTLAND, OREGON PRESENTING SPONSOR: CO-PRESENTING TIME TO THRIVE: Hilton Portland & Executive Tower Map Please Note: Conference registration tables are located in the lobby level of the hotel. BALLROOM LEVEL “B” PLAZA LEVEL “PL” Windows Windows SERVICE AREA UPS STORE SERVICE AREA PARLOR BANQUET KITCHEN A PAVILION EAST s w W o POOL ind ind o W B w GRAND BALLROOM s PAVILION I II WEST GRAND STAIRCASE C FROM LOBBY LEVEL PLAZA ELEVATORS FROM ATHLETIC FOYER CLUB 1 2 3 4 5 LOBBY, 23RD, Access to Exhibit Hall BANQUET STAIRS TO KITCHEN GRAND BALLROOM LOBBY, AND/OR 3RD FLOOR HRC Store CEU BALLROOM FOYER AT&T PLAZA LEVEL, 8 7 6 3RD FLOOR & GUEST ROOM PLAZA SUITE STORAGE FLOORS ACCESS STAIRS GE ESCALATORS TO/ A THROUGH THE ELEVATORS VICE ATHLETIC CLUB FROM LOBBY LEVEL OR R (then take grand staircase to plaza T AREA FOR THE 3RD or elevators to higher floors) S SE FLOOR, LOBBY ELEVATORS & BALLROOM BROADWAY ROOM GE STORAGE A VICE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IV III II I R OR AREA T SE S BANQUET 21 GALLERIA 22 24 26 Bar 20 Food & Beverage 23 25 27 Windows 19 GENDER NEUTRAL 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 BATHROOMS EXHIBITORS BALLROOM FOYER IN BALLROOM LEVEL 1 HRC 2 True Colors Fund 3 The Trevor Project 4 AIR 5 AT&T League 6 NEA 3RD FLOOR CONFERENCE LEVEL “3” 7 NEA 8 Act Against AIDS Windows GALLERIA IN BALLROOM LEVEL 1 Welcoming Schools 2 Gender Spectrum 15 NASW STUDIO DIRECTORS COUNCIL FORUM 3 PFLAG 16 KIPP DC OOM T R S 4 Teaching Tolerance 17 GSA Network EA ARD
    [Show full text]
  • Nancy Daniels President and General Manager, TLC
    Nancy Daniels President and General Manager, TLC As President and General Manager of TLC, Daniels leads the company’s flagship female focused channel, a global brand available in more than 90 million homes nationally and 271 million households around the world. Daniels oversees all aspects of the network’s programming, production, development, multiplatform, communications and marketing in the US. Daniels is the most senior female content executive at Discovery Communications, which reaches 3 billion cumulative viewers across pay-TV and free-to-air platforms in more than 220 countries. Based in the company’s Los Angeles office, she’s held this position since September 2013. Amid ever more fierce competition for audience, Daniels has maintained TLC’s reign as a top 10 network for women with long running hit series Sister Wives, The Little Couple, My 600-lb Life, Return to Amish, Kate Plus 8, 90 Day Fiancé as well as new series 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After?, Long Lost Family, The Spouse House and OutDaughtered. Of the 19 returning series in 2017 to-date, 17 are up or on par versus their previous season. In addition, TLC continues to show strong growth finishing out third quarter 2017 up 19% in primetime versus year ago and ranked as the #6 ad-supported cable network among W25-54. This year, TLC made a major announcement under the helm of Daniels, bringing back original home design series TRADING SPACES after ten years, with Paige Davis returning as host. As one of the most beloved TLC shows that started the home makeover craze, viewers will watch as families and neighbors hand over the keys to their home and let the renovation fun begin.
    [Show full text]
  • Supporting Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Children: Additional Resources for Professionals, Families and Caregivers
    Supporting Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Children: Additional Resources for Professionals, Families and Caregivers Lists of children’s book titles with transgender characters or themes American Library Association Rainbow Book Lists GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/ American Library Association Stonewall Book Awards Lists for Children’s and Young Adult Literature http://www.ala.org/glbtrt/award Welcoming Schools Book List Gender-Expansive and Transgender Children: Books for Students http://www.welcomingschools.org/pages/looking-at-gender-identity-with-childrens-books Books for children Costa, Monique. When Leonard Lost His Spots: A Trans Hall, Michael. Red: A Crayon's Story. 2015. Parent Tail. 2012. Herthel, Jessica & Jazz Jennings. I Am Jazz. 2014. Ewert, Marcus. 10,000 Dresses. 2008. Hoffman, Sarah. Jacob’s New Dress. 2014. Fabrikant, Amy. When Kayla Was Kyle. 2013. Kilodavis, Chery. My Princess Boy. 2010. Gino, Alex. George. 2015. Podgurski, Mary Jo. Nonnie Talks About Gender. 2014. Gonzalez, Maya Christina. Call Me Tree/ Llamame arbol. 2014. Books for parents, caregivers, and professionals Brill, Stephanie and Rachel Pepper. The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals. 2008. Ehrensaft, Diane. The Gender Creative Child. 2016. Pepper, Rachel (editor). Transitions of the Heart: Stories of Love, Struggle and Acceptance by Mothers of Transgender and Gender Variant Children. 2012. Videos about Ryland Whittington and Jazz Jennings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7gjICQ3kL4
    [Show full text]
  • Transgender Author, Activist Chaz Bono Speaks Out
    Tulane University Transgender author, activist Chaz Bono speaks out April 19, 2013 10:00 AM Carol Schlueter [email protected] It's an exciting time in history for trans-identified people, whose voices are just beginning to be heard, says Red Tremmel, director of the Office for Gender and Sexual Diversity at Tulane. A campus audience will hear about celebrity Chaz Bono's experience as a transgender man when Bono appears in McAlister Auditorium on Monday (April 22) at 7 p.m. Transgender activist and author Chaz Bono will speak on the Tulane uptown campus on Monday (April 22). (Photo from Chaz Bono) Tulane University Campus Programming, a student-run organization, is presenting “An Evening with Author and Activist Chaz Bono.” The only child of entertainers Sonny and Cher, Bono identifies as a transgender man and has taken the name Chaz Bono. His most recent book was the 2011 bestseller Transition: Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be. His transition also was detailed in the documentary film Becoming Chaz that debuted in 2011 on the OWN Network. It was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Tremmel is pleased that increasing numbers of trans-identified people are sharing their perspectives. “Though gender diversity has long been part of the social fabric of the United States, it has often remained quite invisible,” Tremmel says. National data, he adds, has shown that LGBTQ youth of color are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement, more likely to be arrested and report being frequently profiled and treated unfairly by the police and other officials. “This is a pressing issue," he says.
    [Show full text]
  • LGBTQ+ Literature: a Guide Dr Emma Clark Contents
    LGBTQ+ Literature: A Guide Dr Emma Clark Contents Page Background and introductory reading 1 Background to the guide and key reading 2 Nine fiction texts covered: 1) Rubyfruit Jungle, Rita Mae Brown (1973) 9 2) A Boy’s Own Story, Edmund White (1983) 13 3) Stone Butch Blues, Leslie Feinberg (1993) 19 4) Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt (1994) 25 5) Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters (1998) 29 6) Call Me by Your Name, André Aciman (2007) 33 7) Why Be Happy When You Could be Normal?, Jeanette Winterson (2011) 37 8) Mr Loverman, Bernardine Evaristo (2013) 41 9) Under the Udala Trees, Chinelo Okparanta (2015) 45 © Pearson Education Limited 2019 1 Background and introductory reading The purpose of this LGBTQ+ guide is to give you and your students some new fiction texts and ideas to consider for the A level Literature and A level Language and Literature coursework titles. In the guide, we focus on nine different fiction texts. These texts cover the themes of love, loss, identity, self-discovery, fear, prejudice and hope, from many different perspectives and voices. Many of the writers use explicit language and terminology to describe the experiences and situations of their characters, and you may want to consider this before you recommend some of the texts to your students. Each text has the following: 1. a brief plot summary 2. a list of the main themes 3. examples of how meanings are shaped 4. ideas about further reading and some other possible texts that may go well as comparison texts.
    [Show full text]