delfin bautista reintroduces another semester of answering your questions about gender expression, gender identity and other LGBT-related topics.
What is the difference between gender expression and gender identity? Why don’t we have a straight pride? Can LGBT people also be people of faith? What’s next in the struggle for equality? Is it better to say “gay rights” or “LGBT equality”? Is ally an identity a person can claim or is it a label bestowed on people? Why is it necessary to have the “Query A Queer” column?
Understanding the ever-changing and evolving worlds of sexuality and gender can be overwhelming. The LGBT Center is committed to creating spaces on and off campus for conversations on sexual and gender diversities. Our goal is to explain why “it's complicated” is the best answer we can give because it truly is complicated (and queertastically awesome!). Often times the questions that people ask us lead to more questions than answers. I have come to realize that many people want a 1+1=2 situation when it comes to their questions about LGBT people. However, the reality is that sexuality and gender are not linear, are not always predictable and often times can be a tad bit confusing.
At the center we are mindful that the world of sexual identity and gender are constantly evolving. We recognize that identity is confusing but we also celebrate the dynamic conversations the confusion sparks. For instance, words like “dyke” and “queer” have been reclaimed by some within the community as terms of empowerment redefining their negative history. We can get married in all 50 states but can still be fired in over 30 states for identifying as LGBTQA. It's exciting to see the attention that Caitlyn Jenner and Laverne Cox are receiving and how that is pushing society to understand the differences between sexual identity, gender identity and gender expression. At the same time, however, it also overshadows the realities of violence and discrimination experienced by LGBT people, especially trans women of color. That is just scratching the surface of sexuality and gender, and it becomes even more expansive as we look at how these two aspects of human identity intersect with other aspects such as race, religion, ability, sex, geographic location, etc.
Each week, the LGBT Center staff will answer your questions. This is your time to ask whatever it is you would like to know and/or better understand and/or have never had an opportunity to ask. We challenge you to not hold back; we will not take offense to any questions posed to us. All questions are welcome and will be shared anonymously in print and in social media. Again, no question is off limits: If it’s problematic or inapproapriate our response will include why it’s problematic and inappropriate. We want this to be a space for all and welcome your questions, curiosities and queries.
Send your questions via email to lgbt@ohio.edu or to oulgbtcenter@gmail.com; via Tumblr (oulgbtcenter); via Twitter to @oulgbtcenter with hashtag #qaqueer or post/message to Facebook (oulgbtcenter).
So bring it on and queer-y a queer.
delfin is the Director of the LGBT Center, faculty advisor to the Hispanic and Latino Student Union and Queers United In Protest and adjunct lecturer for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
