I am still very pleased with how the workshop turned out. I think the four presenters each did very well, and each one of them raised a series of issues which, in and of itself, could have been the focus of a workshop or panel.
As was discussed near the end of the workshop, hopefully many if not all of the attendees and speakers will submit their own proposals next year for queer-themed workshops. Or lesbian themed. Or bisexual themed. Or sex and composition themed. Unless there are more people proposing, there will not be as many workshops. Similarly, it might be a good idea to network so that we have some idea of how many queer people are presenting, proposing, and getting rejected.
I did enjoy the less formal atmosphere, and I enjoyed the exchanges between all of the participants. It is in this kind of place and space where many of us have the chance to finally network with others who are like us. Or at least they are more like us than many of our colleagues.
Finally, a big thank you to Jon, Jackie, Michael, and Nels for showing up, participating, and presenting so many interesting ideas, and an equally powerful thanks to the attendees! Hopefully y'all will inundate the C's with your materials next year!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Reviewing Identity on Sissy Street
Currently, I am staying with friends on St. Anne's in the French Quarter. I was told that this is referred to as "Sissy Street." Normally, I would be offended by that, but since I am here--away from my normal place and space of comfort--I find it pretty funny. I also find it comforting.
More comforting is walking down a street and seeing the rainbow flags, knowing that there are five or six gay bars within a stones throw, and that most men living on this block are gay. That makes me feel comfortable and safe in a way that I have not felt before.
I have never lived in a "gay ghetto," nor have I sought them out. I have always avoided large cities like the plague, but cities are usually the only places which have said ghettos. So avoiding big cities means avoiding gay enclaves.
Being in a totally new place without my partner has been pushing me to rethink just what it is to be gay/queer/etc. This has little to do with theory. This has everything to do with the actual location of my body, how it feels emotionally, and how relaxed I am.
I can honestly and proudly say I really, really like being here. If I could afford to sanely live in a gay ghetto I would. While it may make me sound like a sheep or a conformist, I cannot deny what is true: I want to live around people like me: LGBT folks. The sense of safety, absence of fear, or deep location of normalcy is truly astonishing.
Who knows how I will feel tomorrow, but I sure feel good right now. I like knowing that many of the people around me are like me. After decades of feeling alienated, isolated, or hermitted--by choice--I now have a sense of how other folks live.
I also know there are serious issues of race and class that are not addressed here--that the world on the other side of Rampart is very different. I just got here. I have had less than five hours sleep today, and that was on a plane. My analytical skills are not as honed as they need to be to grapple with race and class. I just did not want to pretend as if they do not exist or as if I am ignoring them.
More comforting is walking down a street and seeing the rainbow flags, knowing that there are five or six gay bars within a stones throw, and that most men living on this block are gay. That makes me feel comfortable and safe in a way that I have not felt before.
I have never lived in a "gay ghetto," nor have I sought them out. I have always avoided large cities like the plague, but cities are usually the only places which have said ghettos. So avoiding big cities means avoiding gay enclaves.
Being in a totally new place without my partner has been pushing me to rethink just what it is to be gay/queer/etc. This has little to do with theory. This has everything to do with the actual location of my body, how it feels emotionally, and how relaxed I am.
I can honestly and proudly say I really, really like being here. If I could afford to sanely live in a gay ghetto I would. While it may make me sound like a sheep or a conformist, I cannot deny what is true: I want to live around people like me: LGBT folks. The sense of safety, absence of fear, or deep location of normalcy is truly astonishing.
Who knows how I will feel tomorrow, but I sure feel good right now. I like knowing that many of the people around me are like me. After decades of feeling alienated, isolated, or hermitted--by choice--I now have a sense of how other folks live.
I also know there are serious issues of race and class that are not addressed here--that the world on the other side of Rampart is very different. I just got here. I have had less than five hours sleep today, and that was on a plane. My analytical skills are not as honed as they need to be to grapple with race and class. I just did not want to pretend as if they do not exist or as if I am ignoring them.
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