Tongqi, straight women who are married to closeted gay men in China

The growing number of Tongqi,straight women who are married to closeted gay men, has become a social problem in China. Just give you a general idea, about 90% of gay Chinese men marry a heterosexual woman. Sexologist and sociologist Li Yinhe believes there are 20 million male homosexuals in China, 80% of whom marry a woman. 
Compared with the US, I think East Asian countries care more about families and offspring. Many parents, even when they know their sons are gays, will force their sons into marriages to have grandchildren. There are also many cases that gay men use sham marriages to have kids. Vice has a comprehensive report on the topic. In China, millions of straight women have married deeply closeted gay men–and many only find out about their partner's sexuality after the wedding. What is life like for tongqi and the men that they marry? 

An advertisement that you may enjoy during the final week

Vicks, a pharmaceutical company, makes an advertisement to show supports for the LGBT community. It's really short and please watch it. I almost cried when I saw the ad for the first time.

By the way, the mum in the ad is Gauri Sawant, a famous Indian transgender activist. Here is her story if you are interested. The real story of Gauri Sawant, the trans ‘mommy’ from the Vicks video, is even more extraordinary

For all non seniors in the class, good luck on your finals. 

Why the GOP Health Care Plan is a Disaster for People Living with HIV

Health care is in jeopardy for many who depend so greatly on Medicaid and other forms of affordable care. For those with HIV, being denied this access to care is incredibly dangerous. It happened in the Reagan era and it can happen again in the Trump era.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-the-gop-health-care-plan-is-a-disaster-for-people_us_5909fc3ce4b05279d4edc1aa

Chechen authorities tell parents: 'Kill your gay sons or we will', survivor claims

 Here is a news story to another horrifying revelation from a survivor of the Chechen violence against gay men. I would have expected this story to have received more attention in mainstream news, but I hope we can remain vigilant on what is happening there.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/chechnya-parents-kill-gay-sons-russia-region-government-chechen-leader-ramzan-kadyrov-a7714591.html

Asian-American Queer Podcast: "Nancy"

Tobin Low and Kathy Yu created a new WNYC Studios podcast titled, "Nancy", that launced on April 9th.  This 12-episode show explores queerness and LGBTQ issues through an Asian-American lens.  The title, "Nancy," is an effort to reclaim a derogatory term used to refer to gay men. The podcast has been featured in The Guardian, NBC, New York Magazine's Vulture Blog, and The Huffington Post.

For me, I always find it refreshing to see queer Asian-American voices being represented and easily accessible.  I am interested to see what these podcasts will have and hope to recommend them to my friends who I know actively enjoy and listen to podcasts.

To see more, check out this HuffPo article HERE!

To hear their first podcast, "Nancy", click HERE :)

CA (still) Bans Gay Conversion Therapy!!

A case was sent to the Supreme Court, trying to take down California's ban on Gay Conversion Therapy. The Supreme Court refused to overturn it by refusing to hear the case.

Although this is a victory for the gay community, the case is far from over. Proponents to Gay Conversion Therapy have said they will continue fighting the case, supposedly believing that it is a beneficial medical practice that is being denied to gay individuals.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/supreme-court-turns-away-challenge-california-ban-gay-conversion-therapy/

Trump administration will gut transgender healthcare protections

Trump administration will gut transgender healthcare protections

Here  is a link to the full original article posted today by Jeff Taylor. 

Below is a little snippet to summarise the crux of the article:

The Trump administration appears poised to gut protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for transgender individuals and pregnant people.

This would be yet another attack on transgender rights from a White House that backed away from trans student rights protections, reversing course on an Obama directive to public schools requesting they honor gender identity in bathroom and locker room usage.

LGBT Rights Bill Re-Introduced

This week Democrats re-introduced the Equality Act, which would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation nationwide. However, it is unlikely to pass given Republican control of the House and Senate as well as Trump's anti-LGBT agenda.

The article also includes a short video on Carter Brown, a transgender man who was fired when his employer found out he was transgender.

Link:http://www.advocate.com/politics/2017/5/01/dems-re-introducing-lgbt-rights-bill

Gay Men Tortured with Electricity in Chechnya

An update on the situation in Chechnya. 

As a Government/IR major, I have been thinking about how our discussions on Russia can be situated within conversations of nation-building and policymaking as it pertains to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the creation of the Russian Federation. In a lecture by Professor Hilary Appel, I also remember her discussing how Russia utilizes the media to portray Putin as hypermasculine and (thus) extremely successful. Super interesting to think about how authoritarian regimes use notions of masculinity to reinforce power and oppression!

Here's another video on the rise of Putin.

Some questions to consider:

Are lesbian women similarly persecuted? If not, it is because they do not threaten the masculine image of Russia that is so quintessential to maintaining its authoritarianism? Furthermore, Chechnya has been in opposition with Moscow because of its desire to declare independence. Does its current persecution of gay men actually align itself with Russia more than it should if it wants to declare independence? What are the political implications of that?

New Policy Created to Eliminate AIDS by 2030 in San Francisco

Produced by PBS, this video/article highlights the new public health program "Getting to Zero" aimed at eliminating AIDS in San Francisco by 2030. The news segment highlights many different aspects of the policy including rapid treatment programs and encouraging PREP medication for those not infected. This video also sheds light on the reality that those most in need of these programs, the homeless population, present the most challenges in actually attaining 'zero' by 2030. The final scenes consist of shots of the Gay Pride parade in San Francisco. Through these scenes, the news anchor illustrates a tension we discussed in the context of the Netherland article: despite major successes in the gay rights movement (gay marriage, anti-discrimination laws, etc) many challenges continue to exist, especially for homeless individuals with HIV/AIDS. Even though the news segment follows the struggles of a homeless straight couple with HIV, this depiction remains relevant because it displays the challenges of homelessness in eliminating AIDS.

Link: http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/san-franciscos-bold-aids-mission-getting-zero-2030

The Onion - "Trump Voter Feels Betrayed By President After Reading 800 Pages Of Queer Feminist Theory"

This Onion video (joke/satirical news) plays on the the unlikeliness of this man's change of heart and his readiness to adopt and use the language of queer-theory.  It reminded me of Lisa Duggan, who argues that the language of queer theory is inaccessible to the public. I think that the Onion agrees with Duggan, and made this video to highlight this reality.

https://www.facebook.com/TheOnion/videos/10155397968279497/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED

CMC Dean featured in Hillary Clinton Campaign Video on LGBT Equality!

When I watched Hillary Clinton's historic 2012 speech on LGBT equality at the United Nations, I recognized the speech from a video called "Equal" that was put together by her 2016 presidential campaign. The video uses the audio from her 2012 speech, and illustrates her (current) stance on LGBT issues. In the video, CMC Dean Devon MacIver's wedding ceremony is featured.

Take a look for yourself!

Op-ed: The Gay Truth About Ronald Reagan

For our fourth paper assignment, I decided to write about the AIDS crisis. As we already know President Reagan during the time did little to help during this epidemic. Below is an article from a very popular gay news source that I, myself trust, so you can only imagine how surprised I was when I came across this article. The writer asks, "Ronald Reagan failed to successfully combat the AIDS crisis, but does that make him antigay?" I honestly think it does. After reading the article, I was still not convinced. What are your thoughts? I thought this was worth sharing because it's always good to listen to differing opinions. I also thought it was interesting that it made it on Advocate and thought it might be worth checking out.

Click here to read the article! 

"Bill Nye Uses Ice Cream to Show How Ridiculous Gay Conversion Therapy Is"

This Huffington Post article has a clip from the Netflix series "Bill Nye Saves the World" where he discusses "ice cream conversation therapy" as an analogy for gay conversation therapy.  The article reports that the video had over 164,000 views by Thursday morning, but received a lot of negative backlash.  A few of these opinions are also displayed in the article.

Ellen is (still) gay!

Over the weekend, Ellen DeGeneres celebrated the 20th anniversary of her coming out episode on her sitcom. Here is a clip of her talking about it with Oprah. How can the actions and decisions of one figure change history? I think this is a great example to show that "progress" doesn't just happen. Also, did Ellen need to be who she is in order for it to be "ok?" As a charismatic, funny, and white woman, how did Ellen challenge the stereotypes of lesbian women, and how did she reinforce them?

http://ellentube.com/videos/0-k5up0673/

"South Korea Military Is Accused of Cracking Down on Gay Soldiers"

Reading this article made me think about the U.S military's role in the early stages of the lavender scare.  Some of the first arguments that the US used to justify its routine ferreting out and discharging of gay people were fueled by the fear of communism.  Now, South Korea is facing the fear of North Korean Nuclear capabilities, and it is noted to be "cracking down on gay soldiers."

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/world/asia/south-korea-mlitary-anti-gay-campaign.html

"RuPaul’s Drag Race Has Sort Of Killed Drag For Queens Who Are Not On The Show"

This past Thursday I got to go to my first drag show thanks to cmc organizations CPB and SAGA!  

The show was tons of fun (even though I got made fun of a good amount) and we got to ask the queens questions in a Q and A after the show.  One question regarded the TV show RuPaul's Drag Race, and one of the queens expressed her hatred for the show because it has changed drag (for many of the reasons mentioned mid-way through the interview of this article).  A criticism that she had beyond these points was that the show does not do a good job of including trans women.  I've never seen the show, but I'm sure it can't beet the live experience.

https://www.queerty.com/rupauls-drag-race-has-sort-of-killed-drag-for-queens-who-are-not-on-the-show-20160425

"Americans Greatly Overestimate Percent Gay and Lesbian"

 I came across this article from the Gallup poll (written in 2015, so a bit dated). I found it really interesting that the percent estimates had sat roughly around 20-25% for years, but were so significantly off from the 4% that supposedly identify as LGBT. It made me wonder if these figures have changed in 2017. It also goes into how the poll qualifies LGBT individuals, since some people live in households with same sex individuals but don't identify that way, etc.

I also found it somewhat comical that they go into how poorly Americans estimate other things as well.  Maybe it's the econ major in me that finds all of this data so interesting, but hopefully you all do to!

http://www.gallup.com/poll/183383/americans-greatly-overestimate-percent-gay-lesbian.aspx

Pope Francis and the Role of Religion

Pope Francis gave a TED talk last Tuesday on "a revolution of tenderness." This is a powerful message of peace coming from one of the world's most prominent religious figures. 

What struck me about his message was how contrary it ran to his recent decision to deny gay men the ability to be priests. In December, the Vatican released "The Gift of the Priestly Vocation", a document outlining rational and protocol for priests. Namely, that practicing homosexuals cannot become them. 

In his TED talk, Pope Francis said:
“Please, allow me to say it loud and clear: the more powerful you are, the more your actions will have an impact on people, the more responsible you are to act humbly. If you don’t, your power will ruin you, and you will ruin the other.”

Pope Francis clearly acknowledges his power. But what message does he send by denying gay man access to priesthood? How transformative could it have been if they were granted access? What role should religion play in sexuality?

Gay History Podcast

Hey all! Here's a podcast that got started by two actors out of Louisville, Kentucky. You'll get more comedy out of it than history, but they have some really solid facts hidden in there. Podcasts could be a great way to share the knowledge we've amassed in this course with the larger public! Everybody likes podcasts.

NYC LGBT Historic Sites Interactive Map

This is a pretty neat interactive map detailing significant sites in LGBT history, such as Stonewall Inn and the building where the Mattachine Society once was, as well as plenty of others. I thought this was particularly relevant to our class given the readings on Gay New York, the Stonewall revolution and others.

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20170424/brooklyn-heights/nyc-lgbt-historic-sites-project

Design X LGBTQ Issues

https://www.typewithpride.com/

SO COOL! They made a font to commemorate the person who created the LGBTQ flag. Easy LGBTQ activism for millennials!

The Birds and The Bees - Who's who and how did the phrase come about

This post is in line with our in-class discussion this morning about including gender and sexuality in the K-12 history curriculum and is part of the broader category of sex education.

I'm sure most of us are familiar with the phrase 'the Birds and the Bees talk' or something similar to that.

But what exactly do the Birds and the Bees refer to respectively? While I doubt there is a singular authoritative source or owner of the phrase, I looked up a variety of sources online and this is what I have gathered.

Essentially, the bees symbolize the ones doing the fertilizing, akin to bees doing pollination of flowers while the birds symbolize the ones doing the ovulation, akin to birds laying eggs.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/39316-birds-and-the-bees.html

And here is an LA Times article titled Birds Do It, Bees Do It,but Why We'd Say that? about the literary origins of the phrase:
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/04/news/cl-15141

Opposing Views on Campus Protests

On the RA strike at Scripps right now (published in the WSJ by a Scripps student!):

https://www.wsj.com/articles/emotional-labor-gets-organized-at-californias-scripps-college-1492983560

On the value of protesting and challenging what liberals call "free speech

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/24/opinion/what-liberal-snowflakes-get-right-about-free-speech.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region&region=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region&_r=0

I sympathize with both view points, and am looking for a way to reconcile them!

Chechnya’s president: I will eliminate the gay community by the start of Ramadan

Currently, gay and bi men in Chechnya, a semi-autonomous Russian republic, are being persecuted. The article below (the Advocate one) talks about survivors experiences and says survivors are starting to speak out about the horrific treatment they faced/are facing in concentration camps. According to the other article, "the president of Chechnya has issued a chilling warning to gay men in the region." The Chechnya government, however, denies such accusations since they believe they don't have gays in the republic to begin with ("you can’t detain and harass someone who doesn’t exist in the republic”). On the U.S. front, Hilary has demanded the Trump administration address the issue, but nothing has yet been done.

Here are two articles, both are short, so I recommend you read both!

The first article talks about what gay men are facing in Chechnya-

http://www.advocate.com/politics/2017/4/21/chechnya-survivors-tell-their-stories-horror

This article talks about Chechnya response to accusations-

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/04/21/chechnyas-president-i-will-eliminate-the-gay-community-by-the-start-of-ramadan/

Caitlyn Jenner at Peace With Herself, Disillusioned With Trump

Caitlin Jenner is controversial for many reasons. I do appreciate her realizing her shortcomings and how she is (was) in many ways unrealistic. When I read and see things about Caitlin Jenner, I can’t help but think that she just really isn’t aware or educated on trans issues, which is horrible considering how many people are following her. If she wants to make a difference, she’s going to have to try a lot harder, step up her game, open her eyes, and educate herself more properly. This is on her; it is no one’s responsibility to educate her. It’s really a shame because I do think someone as popular as her could have made a difference and brought light to some serious issues. I had so much hope for her.

This article proves that yet again she literally has no idea what she is doing. Does she not realize all the harm she is causing? When she supported Trump, she took only her feelings into consideration. Please don’t say you support the LGBT community and movement and then go vote for Trump. Your actions are not without consequence. Especially when you publicly endorse a candidate. You were really shocked that he revoked Obama-era guidance on the equal treatment of transgender students? You are plan on going after him? Please just stop and wake up already!

I’ve also been following Gays for Trump in an effort to better understand the “other side/argument.” I just have a really really hard time understanding arguments such as “I am fiscally conservative but socially liberal.” I just don’t believe the two can be separated. I can never and will never vote republican until a Republican recognizes and grants the LGBT community the rights they deserve.


http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2017/4/22/caitlyn-jenner-peace-herself-disillusioned-trump

Hope Grant: "Southwest of Salem" Documentary

I watched this documentary the other day and it is fascinating! The documentary details the conviction of the “San Antonio 4,” and how the case was based off of false evidence and riddled with homophobia. The documentary uses historical context to situate the case in the end of an era where fear of gay people doing “Satanic rituals” on children gripped the nation. The story of these women and their struggles was gripping. I recommend this documentary to all!

http://www.southwestofsalem.com

Hope Grant: Aaron Hernandez Case

I saw this today in the news pertaining to the case of Aaron Hernandez. While I in no ways condone the actions of Hernandez, or are a fan of him, it does pull at the heart strings to think of the consequences of coming out that drive people to stay in the closet and protect their secrets. Definitely an interesting twist to the case, but very sad.

http://nypost.com/2017/04/21/aaron-hernandez-may-have-committed-murder-to-cover-up-a-shocking-secret/

Student-Alumni LGBTQ Mixer !!!

I was looking through the alumni weekend pamphlet of events happening this weekend and it looks like there will be a Student-Alumni LGBTQ Mixer (I believe on Saturday) from 1pm-2pm. After hearing Cary Davidson speak, I thought it would be very interesting to hear about more experiences of LGBTQ alum either during or after their college years. I unfortunately cannot attend because of a sports conflict, but thought I'd throw it out there for anyone interested!

Chauncey Leaves Yale

http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/165694

Chauncey is leaving Yale (his alma matar, as well as where he's taught for the past 20+ years) for Columbia since he believes Yale falls way behind its peer institutions in LGBTQ inclusivity. I thought this was super relevant considering the panel today and how we think of CMC within the fabric of university inclusion of the LGBTQ community.

NYT Article about gender expression

Here's an interesting op-ed about gender expression - would love to hear everyone's thoughts!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/opinion/my-daughter-is-not-transgender-shes-a-tomboy.html?_r=0

NCAA Returns to North Carolina After Repeal of Bathroom Ban

Here is an interesting article recently posted in the NYT about the NCAA. The NCAA protested the transgender bathroom ban by cancelling all NCAA events in North Carolina. In an effort to seek back business, lawmakers recently repealed the law in March (but approved new measures which prohibited the passing of anti-discrimination protections for LGBT folks). This repeal, however, was enough for NCAA to reschedule events in NC. This decision is a very controversial one! For more: https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/04/18/us/18reuters-north-carolina-lgbt.html?_r=0

Mass Gay Men's Chorus/Gay Marriage

Hi Everyone,

Below is a link for a video sponsored by Boston Gay Men's Chorus on the 10th anniversary of legal same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. While we may all hold different views on marriage as a political goal of gay activists, there are two cool things about this video:

1. Boston Gay Men's Chorus is super popular in Boston and they double as an activist body.

2. Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie performed the first legal same-sex marriage in a church at Arlington Street Church (UU). She married two of the plaintiffs in the Goodridge case, David Wilson and Robert Compton. She is also the partner of my high school math teacher and is an incredible speaker, activist, and person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BivqOSO-b0A

Gays for Trump: Meet the LGBTQ Voters Who Backed Trump

This is an interesting article for anyone interested in or wondering why some members of the LGBTQ voted for Trump.

After the incident at CMC where the speaker was blocked from speaking and after our class discussion on the matter, I became more interested in hearing and learning about the "other side"- that is why people would vote for Trump and more specifically why members of the LGBT community would support and vote for Trump. 

The one thing that caught my attention and what I thought was really sad about this article was all the hatred members of the gay community received for supporting him. How do you feel about this?

Please comment below if there is any part of the article you agree with or think is a valid argument?

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/meet-lgbtq-voters-who-backed-trump-n684181

Anti-LGBT Activities Roundup 4/13/2017 by the Southern Poverty Law Center

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/04/13/anti-lgbt-activities-roundup-4132017

On LGBT characters and actors on TV

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/15/asia-kate-dillon-billions-transparent-lgbt-non-binary
An interesting article!

Sagehen Athletics Track Team

I thought this was a fun article about our peers here at the Claremont colleges!

Link here.

Survivor Player Outed as Transgender

Tonight on the tv show Survivor, one of the players (Zeke) was outed by another player as being transgender. Essentially, the other player told the tribe that Zeke was not trustworthy because he did not tell everybody that he was transgender, which led to an interesting discussion on the show. Here is an interview with Zeke, and here is a link showing just a small part of what happened on the episode.

"8": A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality

In 2012, a play was put on which portrayed the closing statements of the case that would overturn Prop 8 was put on in LA. It uses the actual transcripts and stuff, plus it has an all-star cast (seriously, check it out). It's great and moving and great if you want to know the actual happenings of the trail without reading it, and luckily it's on YouTube! Watch it here. 

North Carolina Attempts to Ban Gay Marriage Again

Here is an interesting article about how North Carolina is attempting to make gay marriage illegal again, regardless of the previous Supreme Court decision. The bill is called the "Uphold Historical Marriage Act."

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article144006904.html

Trauma of AIDS Epidemic Impacts Aging Survivors

Just found an interesting article on the after effects of the AIDS epidemic in recent times...

http://newamericamedia.org/2014/04/trauma-of-aids-epidemic-impacts-aging-survivors.php#

Trauma of AIDS Epidemic Impacts Aging Survivors

SAN FRANCISCO--The nightmares terrorized San Francisco resident Tez Anderson for years. He would dream he was buried deep underground and wake in the middle of the night feeling panicked.

"It felt like I was in a lot of danger. It was not so much about death, it was more that I was in peril," recalled Anderson, who is 55.

Three decades ago Anderson learned he was HIV positive and, like many other 

Depression, Loneliness 
And Suicidal Tendencies 

Research shows that older people with HIV/AIDS are dealing with elevated levels of depression, loneliness and suicidal tendencies, in addition to various co-morbidities or non-AIDS-defining illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, and kidney or liver failure, said experts at the American Society on Aging conference in San Diego in March. 

By next year, they noted, half of those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States will be 50 or older, with the number rising to 70 percent by 2020. Older adults already account for roughly 11 percent of all new HIV infections, presenters said. 

A 2013 study of 160 people living with HIV or AIDS ages 50 or more in the San Francisco area found that 43 percent suffered from depression and 48 percent reported having anxiety. And a Chicago-based survey of 210 older LGBT people conducted in 2010 found nearly half to report having serious depression. 

"That very much catches people's attention, as well as the level of co-morbidities, or this burden of disease people are dealing," said Mark Brennan-Ing, Ph.D., the director of research and evaluation at AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA), at the San Diego conference. 

"People are just shocked to find out people in their 50s and 60s are dealing with levels of morbidity in people we see in their 70s and 80s," he said. 

Brennan-Ing, also an adjunct professor at the New York University College of Nursing, said people’s disbelief is partly due to ageism.: "When we hear of old people being sick and having a lot of illnesses, people say, 'Oh, they are old.' But we are talking about a group whose average age is 50, and for most folks, that is what age they are. It hits home a lot more for them." 

Looking at the research, Brennan-Ing said the key factors driving high rates of depression are loneliness and stigma, not the long time since a person's HIV diagnosis. 

"Feeling lonely is exacerbated especially among gay and bi men who are long-term survivors by the loss of lots of friends and lovers," he said. 

--Matthew S. Bajko 

gay men of his generation, witnessed what felt like a holocaust as he watched countless friends, lovers and associates being felled by AIDS. 

Anderson survived to see the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the 1990s, turning what had been a death sentence for so many into a now manageable chronic disease. Eventually, he would help create a way for other HIV/AIDS survivors to bond for mutual support and fight for better services.

Death, Grief—and Renewal

The traumas Anderson witnessed exacted a psychological toll as he aged. It began with the 2000 death of a lover, Gary Lebow.

"He was in and out of a coma. One day he opened his eyes to me and said, 'You know how much I love you?' He then closed his eyes and I said to him, 'It's okay to go. Your mom will be okay; I'll be okay,'" recalled Anderson. 

He continued, "It was a very powerful gift to me that I was with him when he died. It got me over my fear of death; I wasn't afraid of dying anymore, I was afraid of living." 

Loneliness and depression took over. In the next five years Anderson said he took "a wrecking ball" to his life. He ended friendships, and "hibernated" inside his apartment.

"It was like trying to catch a waterfall in my hands," he said. "I was drowning."

But the advent of online sites for gay men led him to meet his now husband, Mark Ruiz, seven years ago. The two "became a unit," said Anderson, and Ruiz "was part of my healing process."

Over time Anderson started to venture back out into public, spending time at the Castro district’s popular Café Flore and bonding with other men, who were also long-term survivors of the AIDS epidemic. Those conversations showed Anderson he was not alone in feeling adrift.

In November 2012, Anderson and Ruiz decided to form a new group they called Let’s Kick ASS, which stands for AIDS Survivor Syndrome, for long-term survivors looking to reconnect with people and to advocate for services and programs tailored to the needs of people aging with HIV/AIDS.

"We have needs and situations that are different," said Anderson. For one, a whole generation of gay men grew up not knowing if they would see their 40th birthdays, let alone age into their 50s, 60s and older. That began to change within the last decade, as longevity became a new reality for people living with HIV or AIDS.

"I am not looking at an epidemic and desperately trying not to die myself," said longtime AIDS activist Sean Strub, 55, author of the new memoir Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS and Survival. "I may die of something else. My priorities are different."

Majority With HIV/AIDS 50-Plus

The number of older people living with HIV/AIDS is growing both nationally and globally. As the San Francisco-based Bay Area Reporter first reported in 2011, people 50 or older now account for the majority of people living with an AIDS diagnosis in San Francisco. In 2012, people 50-plus reached 51 percent of those living in the city with HIV.

The term “AIDS survivor syndrome” is not commonly used within clinical and academic circles, said Malcolm John, MD, director of 360: The Positive Care Center at the University of California, San Francisco. 

John oversees the university's Silver Project research study of HIV-positive men aged 50 and older, which has determined that health professionals treating people living with HIV or AIDS need to focus on patients' mental health issues. 

The study is confirming other indications that a lack of social support systems for older individuals with HIV or AIDS can lead to depression, isolation and loneliness. Those factors can negatively affect a patient's health, wellness and ability to utilize services.

Of 135 patients enrolled in the Silver Project study, 34 percent said they had experienced depression within the last year. And 22 percent reported mild loneliness with 13 percent having severe loneliness. 

Noting that 57 percent of their patients are lonely, John stated, “That is a significant finding to say the least. We are seeing a lot of patients who aren't clinically depressed need to start medications.” 

He explained that being an AIDS survivor and living with chronic disease, often complicated by additional health conditions all “start to weigh on people."

Age Barriers to Services

While HIV/AIDS in America has been graying for years, service organizations have largely been blind to the issue, said Mark Brennan-Ing, Ph.D, who directs research and evaluation at AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA). So programs have been lacking for older people living with the virus. Federal funding exacerbates the problem, he noted, as it is largely targeted at youth.

"When we are talking about AIDS, the service organizations really are geared up for serving a younger clientele," he said. "They are very focused on HIV prevention and treatment issues, so they don't know so much about aging issues."

Also, added Brennan-Ing, , aging-services providers often "have no knowledge of HIV whatsoever. Really it is a question of building bridges between these two service systems."

In the mid 2000s, said Strub, attention did turn to what some suggested was a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder in older HIV positive men, as well as older men without the virus, who also lived through the horrors of AIDS.

"Definitely, there is residual damage many of us are living with," Strub said. "We just see so many people dealing with addiction issues, mental health issues -- suicide rates are just astonishing -- so there is definitely something there. There are efforts in many cities to create a greater sense of community around long-term survivors and mutual support for those who need it."

The City of San Francisco's LGBT Aging Policy Task Force, in its new report, titled "LGBT Aging at the Golden Gate: San Francisco Policy Issues and Recommendations," notes that older people living with HIV/AIDS "commonly experience increased prevalence of substance abuse and the need for mental health services."

The policy body cites the need for social services, housing and homelessness resources for this segment of the city's LGBT senior adult population, along with "socialization and support group opportunities." 

The report also reiterated calls for "stronger HIV/AIDS cultural competency among mainstream senior service providers."

The Stressful Irony of Surviving

The irony of being able to live with HIV and live longer, Strub said, is that it allows people time to grieve and recall those they have lost. 

While he was ill, Strub recalled, "I was sad but my life was so focused and I had so much to do every day. It was when my health came back that I didn't have that clarity of purpose. I started to have more time to grieve people who had died. People were dying so fast your mind shuts it off." 

As he recounts in his book, Strub sought out solace in isolation and moved to a house in the woods of the Northeast to regroup.

"Those were rough years for me after my health came back, rougher than when I was really sick. Most people find it bizarre, but I hear it often from others," he said. "In coming close to death your life changes. Your perspective changes; you cannot go back to living the same life."

Disney Villains are...gay?

This is a light-hearted article that characterizes the Disney villains as gay stereotypes, and it's pretty funny. It's also interesting to see which stereotypes still exist, how they were historically constructed, and how they influence activism on both sides. And because so many children consume these movies, how it shapes their perspectives of queerness.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58ebb53be4b0c89f91204703?section=us_queer-voices&

HIV Athenaeum Talk

Hi all,

Here's a link to the fascinating talk from last semester regarding cures and treatments for HIV-AIDS. The description of the talk is: Professor Karl Haushalter summarizes the landmark discoveries in the history of HIV-AIDS research, how they have been implemented to save lives, and the remaining challenges in addressing the HIV epidemic, including the search for a cure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe77VMEj2V8&list=PL4orrodQTmUNy09UygbPz_N8nbJKrnUbX&index=16

It's a bit long, but he covers a lot and I really think it's a worthwhile watch.

Also, while I'm here, I thought I would post two other really great Ath talks from last semester and remind you that most of the talks they host are on their youtube channel online. Take a look, I'm sure some topic will interest you!

Black Masculinity in America: Yolo Akili Robinson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mPa-Nj4S9w&list=PL4orrodQTmUNy09UygbPz_N8nbJKrnUbX&index=41

Persecution of Homosexuals in Germany: During and After the Holocaust - Geoffrey Giles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_ccauXODDc&list=PL4orrodQTmUNy09UygbPz_N8nbJKrnUbX&index=38

Chechyna Opens a Gay Concentration Camp

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gay-and-terrified-in-chechnya/2017/04/09/b128822e-18a1-11e7-855e-4824bbb5d748_story.html?utm_term=.a75a525dd3b9

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/01/world/europe/chechen-authorities-arresting-and-killing-gay-men-russian-paper-says.html

Multiple reports now indicate that a province of Russia has opened up a concentration camp for gay men. The articles link to other reports that document the seizure and rounding up of gay men. It appears that information on the issue is scarce, but it does reflect a broader LGBT+ human rights issue within Russia. The NY times article also mentions the closet, which connects back to our conversation on the social construction of a state-sponsored closet.

The Imagined Correspondence of Phyllis Schlafly and Anita Bryant from spring 1978

Found this gem of an article. It's satire and really doesn't add any content, but it's a fun read. Plus, experts like ourselves can glean a little more humor form it than the average reader!

https://thehairpin.com/the-imagined-correspondence-of-phyllis-schlafly-and-anita-bryant-e5bf24c1c057

An Imagined Correspondence of Phyllis Schlafly and Anita Bryant from the spring of 1978

Found this gem of an article. It's satire and really doesn't add any content, but it's a fun read. Plus, experts like ourselves can glean a little more humor form it than the average reader!

https://thehairpin.com/the-imagined-correspondence-of-phyllis-schlafly-and-anita-bryant-e5bf24c1c057

The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles

Prof. Nancy Williams sings with the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. She sent me this video clip from a rehearsal of the chorus, singing the piece "You Have More Friends Than You Know" from the It Gets Better Project.  Lovely!

Op-ed: Hannah Is a Girl. Doctors Finally Treat Her Like One.

Today's New York Times carried this opinion piece about new medical approaches to treatment for transgender youth.

Trans* and Gender Nonconforming Reading List

One of my Facebook friends shared this reading list and I thought others in the class might be interested!  It has suggestions for all different age groups, and I especially enjoyed reading the blurbs for some of the books aimed at younger kids -- I certainly wasn't introduced to any picture books with trans characters when I was a kid, but I find it so encouraging that now those books are being published and (hopefully) widely read and shared.

Also, I was talking to my mom recently about trans issues raised in our class discussions and she happened to be in the middle of reading This Is How It Always Is, one of the books on this list -- I just followed up with her and she says she would recommend it!  Apparently she also read and loved She's Not There.  Definitely adding some of these books to my reading list! :)

This is my friend!
http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/04/07/columbia-university-creates-space-campus-exclusively-minority-lgbt-students
Safe spaces are debated frequently among campuses like our own and I thought his responses to many common criticisms were great. Why are people getting so upset now when there have been all-gay institutions for many many years that have been assets for people in that community?

LGBTQ Progress in Japan

As some of you may know, I spent a good part of my childhood in Japan. And though they are not lacking in a rich underground LGBTQ subculture, the overall culture of shame in Japan largely keeps LGBTQ issues from being discussed at a national level. That's why I was so excited to see this article  about the first same-sex couple that Japan has officially recognized as foster parents:

The couple had submitted their request to be recognised as foster parents in late 2015. They had to undergo lectures, training, scrutiny and a screening by the city's social welfare panel before they were certified.  

The legal recognition comes amid what appears to be a society warming toward recognising the rights of LGBTQ people in the country.

California State to Require the Education of LGBT History

https://news.vice.com/story/california-lgbtq-laws-history

This interesting film segment/article notes the new LGBT curriculum in California high schools. This is really incredible stuff, as the film documents 5th graders talking about LGBT+ issues. It will be brought up as early as second grade, which perhaps reflects the burgeoning importance of American LGBT+ history.

Barry Manilow Speaking Openly About His Sexuality

In a recent People interview, singer Barry Manilow has spoken about his being gay openly for the first time. I thought it was especially interesting reading another piece that put his identity into context:

If it seems impossible that Manilow never addressed his sexual orientation, especially after news of his wedding broke, consider that the same year that his career began to take off—1971, when he started working with Bette Midler—an organized gay rights movement was still in its fledgling stage. Only a couple years before were the Stonewall riots. People noted that he took pains to misdirect attention from his relationship with Kief—Manilow went to live with a “once-rumored love interest,” Linda Allen.

He said in the interview that he thought he would disappoint his fans if they knew he was gay. Though the significance of Manilow officially coming out might not be as relevant to people in our generation, I think it's interesting to wonder what it would have meant if he had been openly gay at the beginning of his career, and what it means for him to come out now. 

Seventh Circuit Court Rules Employers Can't Fire People for Being Gay

In the The Times of Harvey Milk we saw San Francisco's mayor George Moscone sign a Gay Civil Rights Ordinance in April 1978 which protected San Franciscans in the private sector from discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Work is still being done to protect LGBTQ peoples jobs in the United states. The highest federal court yet has ruled against anti-gay discrimination with an 8-3 decision:

http://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/20170404_court-rules-employers-cant-discriminate-against-gay-employees

"The Normal Heart" - Larry Kramer Film!!

Last year, I watched the film The Normal Heart  (2014) starring Mark Ruffalo.  It is about activists in the NYC gay community in the early 1980s and the start of AIDS crisis.  Class yesterday reminded me of the movie because a lot of the topics and emotions we discussed are depicted in the film -- everything from the initial denial by the gay community itself to the government ignoring the situation to issues of heath insurance and more.

I definitely recommend watching it!

Also, as I was looking up the film just now, I saw that Larry Kramer actually wrote the script of the film!  It apparently originally was an autobiographical play he published in 1985 that was successful Off-Broadway -- the Wikipedia page about the play is pretty interesting.  Therefore it makes perfect sense that this film fits in well with our class discussion and the tone in his two pieces we read...

Here's the trailer:

Malaysian Censor Board cuts "gay scene"

I just found it interesting to see the rigidity of the Malaysian Censor board. I was pretty surprised honestly, so thought I would share. 

Link to the full article: here

Beauty and the Beast: Malaysian film censors back down in 'gay moment' row

Country’s censorship board approves 13-plus rating after previously demanding Disney cut gay scene from live-action remake before release

Beauty and the Beast will be screened in Malaysia without cuts, although censors have given the film a 13-plus age rating due to the film containing a “gay moment”.

The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia had previously said the Disney movie would only be approved for release if four minutes of material were removed. The studio refused to make the cuts and appealed the board’s decision.

Now the censors have apparently relented. “We are pleased to announce that Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has now been approved to be released in Malaysia with no cuts, with a P13 rating,” the studio said in a statement. The rating prohibits children under the age of 13 from seeing the film will unless accompanied by an adult.

Earlier, the censorship board chairman had suggested that the film’s director, Bill Condon, had forced the board’s hand. “Maybe if Condon had not mentioned the gay element people wouldn’t be so curious, and we could let it go with a potentially minor cut,” Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid told Malaysia’s New Straits Times.

“Malaysia does not recognise the LGBT ideology,” he added, “so we have to be extra-cautious in our work. We have our responsibilities to the country, the people and our constitution. If we let these scenes pass, people will wonder if Malaysia recognises LGBT.”

The country has strict laws against homosexual behaviour, and films are only permitted to feature gay characters if they are portrayed in a negative light or show repentance for their sexuality.

The censors’ decision to award a P13 rating follows that of Russia, who gave the film a 16+ certificate. The Russian ruling prevents anyone under the age of 16 from seeing the film, whether or not they are accompanied by an adult.

Beauty and the Beast broke global box-office records in its opening weekend, becoming the highest-grossing PG film in the US, and the highest-grossing opening for a musical film in the UK. It will open in Malaysia on 30 March.

Gilbert Baker Dies at 65 Years of Age

Abby posted earlier on Gilbert Baker, the creator of the LGBT rainbow flag, in an earlier post you can find here titled "The Origins of the Rainbow Flag."  Headlining the news today is the death of Gilbert Baker at age 65.  To commemorate his death, there was a gathering at the giant rainbow flag at the junction of Castro and Market streets in San Francisco, near Harvey Milk Plaza.  

A beautiful quote mentioned in this article by Jerome Goldstein said, “HIV disease may someday be forgotten, all of the ugly political and religious fights that we’ve had, they may be forgotten,” Goldstein said. “But the rainbow flag will endure forever.”

I have attached some photos from the vigil that were posted on social media.

source: Ted Thomas on Facebook

source: @tomyamaguchi on Twitter 

LGBTQ+ Representation in Google Doodle

Today's Google Doodle features the work of a young artist from a 10th-12th grade group in Connecticut.  The theme was to doodle what they see for the future.  It is cool to see kids understand the importance of representation and, perhaps, identity intersectionality.  There is the first rainbow "G" that probably represents the Pride Flag and the second "G" that has the transgender symbol.  It's encouraging to see that kids know these concepts, and hope to see their presence and increased recognition in our future.

"Doodle 4 Google Winner" by Sarah Harrison from Connecticut

Link for more information on Doodle 4 Google

People Magazine: "World War II Veteran Comes Out as Transgender at 90 Years Old:

Link: http://people.com/bodies/90-year-old-world-war-ii-veteran-comes-out-as-transgender/

This is a really sweet article about Patricia Davies, a WWII veteran, who has recently come out as transgender at the age of 90. I find this article not only relevant because of the tie between WWII and  lesbian and gay (and transgender) identities, but also because it brings up discourse about age, particularly the elderly, and sexual/gender identity. Cary Davidson and Nancy discussed how they didn't "come out" until their late adult years for particular reasons, and I wish I could ask Patricia, why 90? Our society doesn't tend to sexualize, or make much of the sexual identity of the elderly, and Patricia's story challenges this. I find it amazing that she has started to begin hormone treatments, and that she decided to keep her gender identity secret (except from her wife) for 30 odd years. Take a look-very sweet story!

Celebrations in the Castro

After watching The Times of Harvey Milk, I realized how important the Castro is as a place of gathering for LGBTQ+ populations in San Francisco. Here is a video of celebrations in the Castro following the legalization of same-sex marriage, and I couldn't help but draw parallels between this and when Milk was elected supervisor. Definitely hope to revisit the Castro with a renewed understanding of its significance in LGBTQ+ history.

Expected Repeal of NC "Bathroom Bill"

"North Carolina Governor Expected to Sign Repeal of Bathroom Law":

Earlier today, the NC General Assembly voted to pass a bill that "repeals House Bill 2, creates a moratorium on local discrimination ordinances through 2020 and leaves regulation of bathrooms to state lawmakers."

This NYT article discusses responses by lawmakers on all sides of the discussion and highlights the frustrations of many at this compromise.  In particular, though repealing the bathroom bill may seem like a step in the right direction, many argue that the LGBT community will be left without nondiscrimination policies.

Some examples from the article include the following three quotes:

• In a brief statement on Wednesday, Mr. Cooper — whose razor-thin victory over Mr. McCrory in November was due in large part to voter frustration over the national backlash over House Bill 2 — said that the measure was “not a perfect deal, but it repeals House Bill 2 and begins to repair our reputation.”
• In the House, Representative Deb Butler, one of the state’s few openly gay legislators, was among those who said the compromise would not ameliorate “the stigma and suffering” associated with House Bill 2. “We would rather suffer HB2 than to have this body, one more time, deny us the full and unfettered protection of the law,” she said.
• Representative Bert Jones, a Republican, also opposed the compromise, noting his belief that God “created us male and female,” and said that it was not discriminatory for him to hold that belief.

The Origins of the Rainbow Flag

Ever wondered how the rainbow flag became a symbol for the gay community? This article shares the story of its origins when Milk asked Gilbert Baker to create a symbol for the gay community.

I had not realized that each color on the flag symbolized something which I found very cool.
Pink: sex
Red: life
Orange: healing
Yellow: sun
Green: nature
Turquoise: magic
Blue: serenity
Purple: spirit 

Watching the video, I found it really surprising how young Baker seemed. I always manage to forget how recent this history is. 

CAP Article: What Gorsuch's confirmation hearing indicates for LGBT rights

Hello Everyone!

I came across this article from the Center for American Progress. It points to some of the subtle ways Trump's SCOTUS nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, indicated that he would not defend the equal rights of LGBT Americans. In particular, he wouldn't classify LGBT discrimination as discrimination against members of a protected class. Not too much concrete evidence, but a good "reading between the lines" piece. Here's the article!

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/news/2017/03/24/429180/gorsuch-signals-extreme-threat-lgbt-rights/

German bill to overturn convictions of gay men prosecuted after WWII

Last week, Germany’s Cabinet approved a bill that, if approved by Parliament, will overturn the post-WWII convictions of thousands of gay men and provide financial compensation for convictions and jail time served. Here's an article with more information.

As we learn in class about queer history in the US, I have enjoyed learning a bit more about queer history in other countries as well, and it's interesting to see how those histories can mirror what has happened in our country’s past and present. I found it particularly powerful, in this article, to read about the experience of Fritz Schmehling and his desire not to die with a criminal record -- it reminded me of the American veteran in “Coming Out Under Fire” who was still struggling to upgrade his blue discharge 50 years later. Both examples raise the question of how countries/groups/individuals go about trying to right past wrongs and highlight how painfully long that process can take.

HOPE GRANT: HHS Survey ousts LGBT questions

I actually saw this article on Tuesday but haven't had a chance to post it until today. Basically, the Trump administration deleted questions on sexuality from two federal surveys, which has people worried. The first survey was intended to gather information for programs funded by the Older Americans Act. The second survey, also by the Department of Health and Human Services, was to gather feedback for counseling, skills training, and other services for the disabled. The article can be read here and I think it can generate a lot of discussion about the new president and administration.

HOPE GRANT: Buzzfeed 1970s Explanation of How Many Women Are Lesbians

This Buzzfeed story was really interesting for multiple reasons. Not only is a 1970s "profile" of lesbians interesting because it includes verbiage such as, "Even though there's strong scientific theory that says none of them has actually been born that way," as in born gay, but it is interesting because the reporter interviewed lesbians and attended a meeting of the Australasian Lesbian Movement. We have been learning about the rise of different lesbian feminist groups in the 1970s so I thought this was fitting! Click here for the story

More info on incident of radical feminist attack on Beth Elliot

Chapter 6 of Queer America briefly mentions that in 1973 "transsexual lesbian Beth Elliot was expelled from the West Coast Women's Conference" as part of "conflicts between lesbian feminists and trans people" (an extremely mild way of referring to the vicious transphobia of that strain of radical feminism). Here's a link that goes into much greater detail about that event; I recommend giving it a read if you can stomach it. Content warning for extreme and violent transphobia/transmisogyny and misgendering.

Bechdel NPR Piece

When we read the Bechdel cartoon for last week, it jogged my memory - a few years ago, I listened to a piece on NPR about Alison Bechdel and her relationship with her father. I remember being struck by how candid and funny she was, and I encourage you to listen if you have a second!

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/17/432569415/lesbian-cartoonist-alison-bechdel-countered-dads-secrecy-by-being-out-and-open

Beauty and the Beast's Gay Moment

On the topic of gays in film and media-

In describing the controversial "gay" cinematic moment between protagonist Gaston and sidekick Le Fou, Beauty and the Beast director Bill Condon said, "By representing same-sex attraction in this short but explicitly gay scene, the studio is sending out a message that this is normal and natural.”

Despite being well received by many audience members, it's important to note that this small scene caused a lot of controversies. Russia, for example, reclassified the film to “adults only,” Malaysia refused to screen the movie without editing out the gay moment, Kuwait's censors pulled the film for edits, and one Alabama theater was so shocked by the thought of a gay moment that it decided not to show the movie at all. Just when it seems like we have made a step forward, people/places are still rejecting representations of gays in media.

I also agreed with the reaction from the LGBT community, and I don't believe the representation of a gay character went far enough. Like many members of the LGBT community, I wonder "how long the LGBTQ+ community must wait to see a truly authentic performance of queerness by a main character in a Disney film."

Click here to read the full article

Asian (Korean) American Queer Representation

Andrew Ahn is a Korean American filmmaker who has delved into the representation of the queer Asian (Korean) American experience through his short film, "Dol" (2011), and full-length feature, Spa Night (2016).  Spa Night recently won the 2017 John Cassavetes Award in the Film Independent Spirit Awards.  In his acceptance speech, Ahn emphasized the importance of telling the stories of marginalized communities because "we can't be pushed aside, labeled as 'Other.' We are a part of this great country."

link if broken can be found here

This speech helped me reflect on our course as a whole to think about which stories are continually mis/unrepresented in the greater theme of US (Gay) History.  I also reflected on the media's increase towards self-determined representation of marginalized (queer) communities through films like Moonlight and how important it is for these communities to (re)claim their identity and representation in mainstream media.  When Ahn visited the Claremont Colleges he mentioned how Korean Americans would comment on and feel comforted by small details such as the way the mother peeled an apple in the film that was reminiscent of their own familial life, and representational of what the Korean American identity entails.

LINKS FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION
SPA NIGHT IS CURRENTLY STREAMING ON NETFLIX!! :)
Link to Spa Night Trailer here
Link to short film "Dol" here
Link to another blog post about Spa Night here

Author's Note: I wrote "Asian (Korean) American" with "Korean" in parenthesis to represent the Korean-American identity as falling under the umbrella term Asian-American. 

YouTube restricts LGBTQ+ content

LGBTQ+ YouTube content creators recently noticed that YouTube's platform has been filtering LGBTQ+ content out with its Restricted Mode. This function is meant for parents who want to filter out inappropriate content on YouTube for their kids. YouTube responded saying that videos had been mislabeled and thus caused the restriction to occur.

I think this event is important in our understanding of how LGBTQ+ topics are intertwined with issues that can be deemed 'inappropriate', and therefore endangering its position in media and its access. Would love to hear any similar stories!

Chimamanda Adichie controversial comments on transwomanhood

This story about Chimamanda Adichie's comments on trans women have been kind of big in the news  recently. It raises really interesting question about womanhood and how that relates to various systems of oppression, as well as current issues within feminism. The article I'm attaching does a good job explaining the issue. Would love to hear what you guys think!

http://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/15/14910900/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-transgender-women-comments-apology

BBC Article on the invention of 'heterosexuality'

"One hundred years ago, people had a very different idea of what it means to be heterosexual. Understanding that shift in thinking can tell us a lot about fluid sexual identities today, argues Brandon Ambrosino."
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170315-the-invention-of-heterosexuality

I came across this BBC article that, through the exploration of the creation of heterosexuality, indirectly illuminates the construction of homosexuality. The article covers material from around the world and in terms of time, covers 1800s all the way up till the modern-day. Albert Kinsey and David Halperin, authors who we have read for class, are also mentioned.

The writer of this article argues that before heterosexuality was invented and normalized, it was considered abnormal. The writer then discusses the role of language in the 'invention of heterosexuality'. According to the writer, this invention also corresponded with the rise of the middle class in America (incidentally featuring a quick discussion of New York City and the migration of the masses to the city) with the author saying that the middle class saw "sexual misconduct" as a thing of the working class and the poor. The writer ends off the article speculating on the history of heterosexuality and how it seems to be losing its 'high ground'.

Overall, this intellectually provocative article covers many of themes that our class addresses (what defines homosexuality [e.g. gender inversion, acts...], capitalism and LGBT, creation of norms and normality/abnormality,... ) and, in my view, makes for a comprehensive and enlightening read.