Graphic Novels with Homosexual Characters

This is mostly for Brandon, but if others are wondering where are the superheroes of the GLBT community I have a suggestion. DC Comics makes a wonderful superhero series called "The Authority." Two of the main superheroes Apollo and Midnighter are openly gay characters who are married to one another. They also raise Jenny Sparks (on and off again), who is another member of the superhero team whose age fluctuates over the course of the series. Might be something worth checking out if you are examining queer theory for your final project.

Past theory events on campus

MOVIE: The tempest (1979)
April 15, 7pm
MSU Main Library: North Conference Room W449
Admission: Free
Sponsored by the English Department and Early Modern Studies
**Postcolonial themes, gender role deconstructions, and a gothic setting are combined in Derek Jarman's unconventional interpretation of Shakespeare's classic.

Pride Week
Pride week is the primary LBGTQ community celebration, planned, implemented and sponsored by the various MSU student LBGTQA organizations. Many of the events listed here are educational, but there's plenty of fun, too!

Sunday April 11: Picnic and Gaymes -- Join us in the Student Services garden from 2-5pm for food (including
vegetarian options) and fun gaymes! Sponors: Spectrum/PRIDE

Monday April 12: Speaker: Patrick McAlvey -- Alliance sponsors an opportunity to learn about ex-gay therapy in Holmes, C106 at 7pm, from a Lansing native who sought help from a counselor at the age of ninteen. Hear about Patrick’s quest after therapy to embrace his sexuality and overcome the horrors or therapy.

Tuesday April 13: Safeschools Seminar -- 4-5:30pm Erickson Hall Room 252. A seminar lead by local high school students and teachers discussingthe role of GSAs in their school environment, along with general GLBTQQIA issues in schools. Sponsored by SafeSchools.

Facepainting and Tie-Dye -- on the Brody lawn, from 5-8pm. Sponsored by LIGHT.

Wednesday April 14: Nervous but Excited -- 7:30pm in the Williams Great Hall (West Circle). Based out of Michigan, Nervous but excited is a self-proclaimed Pleasantly Agressive Folk Duo and MSU is proud to welcome them back for the second time in 3 years! Sponsored by PRIDE.

Thursday April 15: Transforming Theatre -- 3-4:30pm in Room 6 of Student Services. The Transforming Theater Ensemble is a new initiative that combines live performance and audience participation to foster dialogue around topics that involve diversity and inclusion in the workplace, classroom, and residence halls. Sponsored by TransAction, RING, and the LGBTRC.

Friday April 16: Day of Silence -- Recognizing those in the community that are silenced.

Poet: StaceyAnn Chin -- 6pm Fairchild Theatre. Sponsored by the LGBTRC, Women’s Council, RCAH, Office of Inclusion and Inter-cultural Identities

Drag Show -- 8-11:30pm. Enjoy performances by some of your favorite drag queens such as Moltyn Decadence, Eva Angelica, Delicious, and our ever popular host, Hershae Chocolatae. Sponsored by UAB, RING, and RHA.

Saturday April 17: Pride Week Prom -- 8-11pm, Union Gold Room A/B. This is your night of magic under the stars at prom! Elegant light refreshments, a beautiful photo station, prom favors for the first 100 people, and dancing the night away. Sponsored by PRISM.

Sunday April 18: Dodgeball Tournament -- Join all the LGBT Organizations for a round-roubin tournament to see which caucus team will take the title of the undisputed “Dodgeball Champion!” Light Refreshments will be provided for all participants! 1-3pm at IM Circle. Sponsored by RING.

Keeping up with GLBTQ YAL

If you are interested in keeping up with new YAL with GLBTQ characters and themes, there are several blogs that post reviews. Lee Wind is known for thoughtful reviews.

There's also a blog called "Worth the Trip" that is good, but it seems to be temporarily down. :-(

Week 10: Freak Show, Queer Theory, and Reader Response

Thanks to Katie, Emily, Emily, Guy, and Peter for their presentation on Queer Theory yesterday! I've posted the slides from their presentation on Angel. Although you are welcome to ask other types of questions in your critical response papers to Freak Show, one approach that might work well with this book would be to explore how the author plays with the idea of "heteronormativity".

I've also posted an article called "Anti-homophobic Pedagogy" in the Additional Readings and week 9 folders. This is optional reading. I posted it because, although it is written to an audience of educators, I think the author makes some interesting points about how sexual orientation is discussed and why one may or may not one might be public about sexual orientation in the workplace. (He does make the point that those who are heterosexual might have less expeirence thinking of this as a choice that carries certain priviledges.)

To recap, for Tuesday, please read Freak Show and write a one-page critical response. On Thursday we'll hear from the Reader Response Theory Group!

Enjoy the weekend!

Queer Theory Group

As a group, we think that we did very well presenting Queer Theory to the class. We met two times to work on the project together plus had a meeting with Valerie. Our group got along very well and we all thought we were easy to work with. We also thought that we divided up the work evenly and covered the important material in the chapter as well as include some things of our own. Although it was the day after St. Patrick's Day and the class seemed tired, they also seemed interested and we, for the most part, were able to keep their interest. Although there was a lot of things that we had to lecture about, we did incorporate some interactive things as well which kept the class alert. I think the read aloud that we chose was very effective, and I do feel bad that I did not know the ending. So, for the people that do want to know, Kyle and Jason do end up dating by the end of the book! Our videos seemed to catch the classes interest as well and were good tools to wrap up our presentation while covering everything we had talked about.

Safe Schools Seminar this Tuesday (2/23)

The Safe Schools group is part of our TE department at MSU. The focus of the group is on opening up conversations around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. Although I haven't been as active in the group this year, I did do the ordering for the Safe Schools Library and can promise that this is a great resource!

GLBTQ Children's and Young Adult Literature

• Introducing the Safe Schools Library
• Book talks on GLBTQ Literature
• Pedagogical Strategies for Using Books!

The event will be held:

• 4:00-5:30 PM
• Tuesday, February 23
• Erickson Hall 252

Book Recommendation: Dance, Recover, Repeat by Alasdair Duncan

I highly recommend Dance, Recover, Repeat by Alasdair Duncan. This book is haunting and sticks with you. Seeing the despair of the main character Calvin and the emotions he goest through it will never leave you. Below is the link to the synopsis on Barnes and Noble website which I could spend hours in detail on but that should not be the focus. Duncan was 22 when he wrote this and I feel that adds to the authenticity of Calvin who is 16. It is choppy, abrupt, and emotional which connected with me because that is how I constantly felt. Duncan combines IM, e-mails, and regular text to tell the story of Calvin. I will warn you that this is not suitable for all young adults because of the themes, languages, and situations but this truly one of the most accurate portrayals of young adults that I've ever seen. Also below is the Entertainment Weekly Review.

• Barnes and Noble Synopsis
• Entertainment Weekly

ALA Rainbow List

Although the American Library Association does not have an award for literature which includes representations of GLBTQ characters, they do have a committee that is beginning to evaluate that literature. Here's a link to the 2009 titles: ALA Rainbow List

Queer theory group

Queer theory, presenting Thursday, 3/18/10
(In preparation for reading Freak Show)

1. Emily Berg
2. Emily Jarema
3. Guy Larcom
4. Katie Pizarek
5. Peter Wilton