Human Rights Campaign day 3: good gays, radical queers, and the politics of marriage equality
It is the end of day 3 here at the HRC Summer Institute for LGBTQ Scholars in Religious and Theological study. Today was a very insightful day, perhaps even inspiring. The day began with great conversation over breakfast which then moved into our large group session. We processed the evening with Janet Jakobsen and Kathleen Sands and the ways in which their scholarship problematizes and encourages our own scholarship. Intersectionality, Marxism, Politics, and everything else! We also ventured into the marriage equality debate…
More about that now!
Let me start with saying that I really wondered how this time would go, considering that HRC signed on for marriage equality as a LGBTQ right. I was not sure how I would fit in with this group when I think that I want a completely different pie than the patriarchal, heternormative, masculine power structure that has historically oppressed women which we call “marriage.” I call this pie the apple pie. I much prefer a mixed berry pie that is completely different than the traditional apple pie. That said, I had some reservations and concerns…I can heartily say that I no longer have these concerns, and especially don’t have them after this conversation this morning!
Our large group session really sought to create space for multiple voices, perhaps even voices that are descenting. We talked about what the queer community is, and if there is even a queer community?! This was one of the best conversations we’ve had as a large group. It was nice to hear one of my fellow colleagues say that he doesn’t know if he fits in the queer community, or if he has a place in the queer community. As a Latina/QueerMestizo, I echo this sentiment. If there is a queer community, do I fit?! Great conversation full of respect and love. I only wish the academy was this kind!
Our evening session was with Jay Michaelson. This was an important lecture because it provided a platform to unite scholarship and activism (something that I have always not known how to unite and nervous about such things. (I have been honest about this, too. The good pastors knows!). I thought Jay did a remarkable job, and combined textual studies, cultural studies, along with Jewish Thought and Politics to consider the task of negotiating the “good gays” and the “radical queers.” My question is: what if this dichotomy within the gay/queer movement is a false dichotomy? And, what if we want different choices than the “good gays” and “radical queer” groups? How do we find a way to unmask these other options? Is it in space like the Summer Institute? Is it in our writing? Our potential blogs or podcasting? Is it a combination of these? I don’t know?! But, I am interested in finding ways to combine scholarship and activism…I have 2 people in mind who would be (and are) great conversation partners…
Day 3 has come to a close and day 4 will be jammed pack with media training and lunch with the Religion Council of the HRC. It promises to be a 15 hour day…buenas noches amig@s!
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