Trans History at American University a Brief Sketch by Matt Ferguson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Trans History at American University A Brief Sketch By Matt Ferguson, Stephen Masson, Perry Zurn Spring 2019 2019 (Spring): Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project is organized. Membership includes students (Jay Ensor, Charlie Everett, Abigail Morris), staff (Bridget Cooney and Andie Row from HR, Nicole Schoeb from ASAC, Kameron Winters from CDI), faculty (Perry Zurn from CAS), and administration (Amanda Taylor from PCDI). ● February 13, 2019: Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project Planning Meeting ● February 23, 2019: Inclusive Bathroom Mapping Project ● April 3, 2019: Map recommendations submitted to Planning and Project Management ● April 10, 2019: “Accessibility and Inclusive Bathrooms,” presentation by Jay Ensor, Abigail Morris, and Perry Zurn at AU’s Disability, Access, and Teaching Symposium. 2018 (October): Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference, October 5-6, 2018, co-organized by AU faculty member Perry Zurn and UNC Charlotte faculty member Andrea Pitts. The two keynotes were: Mel Chen (University of California, Berkeley) and Che Gossett (Rutgers University). 2018 (October): Eli Clare, trans and disabled activist and author, is awarded the Richard L. Schlegel National Legion of Honor Award, under the category of Visionary Leader. The award is presented at AU’s Thinking Trans // Trans Thinking Conference. 2018 (September): On September 27, 2018, in the Katzen Recital Hall and hosted by SPA, AU SPA alumna Sarah McBride (‘13) did a talk on her book, Tomorrow Will Be Different (2018). 2018: Chris Moody, Sara Bendoraitis, Matt Bruno, and Ryan Anderson publish “Supporting All Students with Gender Housing Options” in Trans Policies and Experience in Housing and Residence Life, eds. Jason C. Garvey et al. (Stylus Publishing, 2018), 134-150. 2017 (Spring): First full length “Transgender Studies” course taught by then WGSS Director and term faculty member Lauren Weiss (3 credit, WGS 350). 2016 (December): Cass Bliss, genderqueer alumn of the AU WGSS program (’15), publishes The Adventures of Toni the Tampon; A Period Coloring Book. The book aims to introduce kids of all genders to menstruation. https://www.tonithetampon.com/about. 2016 (November): Queers and Allies, Student Government, Unitarian Universalists, the Lions Club, and the GLBTA Resource Center’s programming for Trans Awareness Week includes: ● “The Impact of Trans Bullying,” November 14, 2016: “Join American University professors Leap and Edelman for a discussion about gay privilege versus trans vulnerability as well as the language of bullying and harassment and how that applies to transgender individuals.” 1 ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance: Awareness on the Quad,” November 18, 2016: “The Transgender Advocacy Project along with other members of the AU Community will be tabling on the quad to talk about transgender hate crimes and why we participate in Transgender Day of Remembrance. We will have information about gender identity and the importance of fighting transphobia, and answer any questions you have about transgender issues. We will be selling bookstore items to raise money for the Aiden Rivera Schaeff fund.” ● “A Capella Against Bullying,” November 18, 2016: “Join AU’s a capella group for a combined concert to spread awareness about transgender bullying and to support the Aiden Rivera Schaeff Fund in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance.” ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil,” November 20, 2016: “The Unitarian Universalist congregation will host a non-denominational vigil in honor of those who have lost their lives to transgender hate crimes. There will be a names reading of those who have died this past year, and it is an opportunity to remember others who continue to struggle.” 2016 (Spring): The first, non-full-length “Transgender Studies” course is taught by WGSS adjunct Rory P. O’Brien (1 credit, WGS 496). 2016 (Spring): Protests against the Milo Yiannopoulous visit to campus are led by Noah Leibowitz. 2015 (November): AU SPA alumna Sarah McBride writes, “This I Know,” perspectives piece for American University Magazine. https://www.american.edu/magazine/article/Sarah-McBride.cfm. 2015 (April): Aaron Theodore Samuel submits “Performing Thirunangai: Activism, Development, and Normative Citizenship in Tamil Transgender Performance,” a Doctoral Dissertation in Anthropology, on April 14, 2015. Bill Leap is the chair of the committee. 2015 (April): Janet Mock speaks at AU on April 1, 2015. The event was organized by the AUSG’s Women’s Initiative. 2014 (November): Queers and Allies, GLBTA Resource Center, and Trans Advocacy Project’s programming for Transgender Advocacy Month includes: ● “Trans 101,” November 12, 2014: “Explore the diversity of identities within the transgender community and learn how to be inclusive and respectful of transgender people.” ● “Trans Advocacy for Campus Organizers,” November 18, 2014: “Learn about the Trans Advocacy Project’s goals for this year and how you can help make American a more inclusive university.” ● “Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil,” November 20, 2014: “Eat dinner with Queers and Allies, and then join the DC community in remembering victims of anti-transgender hate crimes.” ● “Volunteer Opportunity: National Center for Transgender Equality,” December 2, 2014: “Volunteer at a fundraising gala for the fifth anniversary of the founding of the National Center for Transgender Equality. NCTE is a social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment.” 2 2014 (April): Queers and Allies organizes “TransWorks: Transsexual Images,” a lecture and slide presentation by photographer Loren Cameron on April 2, 2014. The event is sponsored by Queer and Allies, Women’s Initiative, American Studies, Anthropology, GLBTA Resource Center, Student Government Arts Council, Student Government Diversity Action Team, and WGS. 2014 (February): Laverne Cox speaks at American University; see report by Gregg Sangillo, February 14, 2014, https://www.american.edu/media/news/20140214-transgender-trailblazers.cfm. 2014: Loro Lox and Emmett Patterson, students in the AU WGSS program, found Not Your Average Sex Talk, a peer-to-peer, trans-affirming health advocacy network. https://nyast.wordpress.com/about-nyast/. 2013 (November): 8th Annual GLBT Studies Colloquium, November 16, 2013, includes: ● “Equal Access, Equal Care: Creating a Trans* Inclusive Healthcare Culture,” by Emmett Patterson (American University). “This presentation will focus on the health status of trans* communities, the disparities they face, and how medical providers can become more culturally competent in treating them. The discussion will include: primary, preventive, and transition- related care; access to healthcare; health vulnerabilities; and how medical providers can be effective trans* allies.” ● “Gendered Instruction & Gender Deconstruction: Trans* Students at Religiously Affiliated Institutions,” by Chelsea Fullerton (NYU School of Medicine). “In this qualitative exploratory study, the researcher aimed to investigate the needs and experiences of transgender persons at religiously affiliated institutions through the perspective of eight transgender students who represented a variety of identities and attended six four-year institutions as well as two schools of theology located across the US. Through semi-structured interviews, participants reflected on their college experiences and the role that these played in their identity development, discussing both obstacles and resiliency factors. These findings will be presented as well as their implications for transgender campus inclusion.” 2013 (April): At the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s 16th Annual LGBTQ Awards Ceremony, on April 24, 2013, AU SPA alumna (‘13) Sarah McBride received an award for “Campus Excellence.” This award “goes to an individual, organization, or campus office that is committed to improving the campus climate by effectively incorporating LGBTQ issues into their work.” 2013 (April): Queers and Allies programming for Ally Week includes “Trans Healthcare: Voices Against Violence” event on April 18, 2013: “We will explore disparities in the healthcare system that effect the Trans* community.” 2012 (November): 7th Annual GLBT Studies Colloquium, November 13, 2012, includes: ● Kevin Ballie (School of International Service, American University), “TransYouth and YouTube” Panel: “The Internet has provided transgender individuals with an astounding amount of resources on transgender identity, transgender advocacy, community and discussion. Many transgender individuals, especially transgender youth, have taken to documenting their lives on popular video sharing sites such as YouTube. This has led to a dynamic new introduction to being transgender for thousands of transgender teens around the world.” 3 ● Derek Siegel (American University), “Examining Cis-Gender Privilege.” Siegel expanded this poster presentation into a 60 minute interactive workshop “Unpacking Cis-Gender Privilege: Becoming an Ally to Trans Communities” for AU’s first Diversity Week. Siegel, who held a 4.0 GPA, wrote a bi-monthly column for the Eagle student newspaper and served as co-director of AU Queers and Allies Transgender Advocacy Project. This spring, he organized and led a number of panels and dialogues aimed at promoting visibility and awareness of trans issues on campus. Siegel received the Outstanding 2nd Year Student award at the Center for Diversity and Inclusion’s 2013 LGBTQ Awards Ceremony. He went on to a doctoral program in sociology