History, Community, Politics: Emergence of Sexual Minority Voices in the U.S. (A.K.A. "The Gay Agenda")
Tufts Experimental College: 0027-F, Fall 2003
Instructor: Robyn Ochs
Email: robyn@robynochs.com
Credits: One Course Credit, Letter-Graded. This course has been approved by both the American Studies and Women's Studies programs to count toward major credit.
Prerequisites: None. All are welcome.
Date & Time: Wednesday, 6:45-9:25 PM
Place: Miner 221
COURSE DESCRIPTION: What is today's "gay agenda," and how has it changed over time? Are there multiple agendas, even within each of these identity categories? In this course, we will explore the emergence of sexual minority communities and sexual minority visibility in the United States, from the 1940s to the present. We will look at issues such as same-sex marriage; debates about inclusion/exclusion of subgroups; the creation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender spaces; and cultural self-representation. Do gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have common concerns or a unified voice? Guest speakers, documentaries, short stories, poetry, legal documents, mission statements, newsletters, newspapers, and theoretical texts will frame our discussion. There will be a focus on marginalized voices within sexual minority communities. Students are required to make at least two field trips during the semester, choosing among several options, which may include visiting bookstores, community group meetings, and the like.

Guest speakers, documentaries, short stories, poetry, legal documents, mission statements, newsletters, newspapers, and theoretical texts will frame our discussion. There will be focus on minoritized voices within sexual minority communities.Students will make at least two field trips during the semester, choosing among several options, which may include visiting bookstores, community group meetings, etc.This will be a highly interactive, discussion-based full credit, letter-graded seminar.
MATERIALS REQUIRED: Purchase course pack. Subscribe to the Data Lounge. All readings are available in Tisch Library. SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES: http://www.ngltf.org/library/
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:
Self-description (1-2 pages, due week 2)
Weekly response papers (2 pages) due weekly, weeks 2-12.
Mid-semester paper (5 pages) due week 7.
2 Field trip journals (2 pages each) due by week 9.
Final paper topic. Outline must be approved by week 10.
Final paper (10-12 pages) due week 13.
GRADING: Grading will be determined as follows: attendance and participation (25%); midterm paper (15%); weekly journals (20%); field trips and field trip journals (10%); final paper (20%); presentations (10%). There will be a 5% penalty for each unexcused absence beginning with the second.
SUMMARY OF SCHEDULED DISCUSSION TOPICS:
WEEK 1: Intro to the syllabus and to each other.
WEEK 2: History, I: 1945-1969, I: Homophile Organizations & Social Networks (Film: Forbidden Love)
WEEK 3: History, II: (Film: Ruth Ellis at 100).
WEEK 4: History, III; Gay Men; The Impact of HIV/AIDS.
WEEK 5: What should be the "Gay Agenda"? Strategy debates: Queer Identity v. Assimilationism .
WEEK 6: Same Sex Marriage, 1: the current political and legal landscape.
WEEK 7: Same Sex Marriage, 2: Should this be a priority?
WEEK 8: Choosing Children.
WEEK 9: "The Rest of Us": Race, Class and Geography.
WEEK 10: "The Rest of Us": Bi and Trans.
WEEK 11: Aging.
WEEK 12: Presentations.
WEEK 13: Conclusions and predictions.
WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:
WEEK 1, September 3, 2003.

TOPIC: Intro to the syllabus and to each other
(Film: Before Stonewall).

ADVANCE READINGS: None
WEEK 2, September 10, 2003

TOPIC: History: 1945-1969, I: Homophile Organizations and Social Networks
(Film in class: Forbidden Love: 85 min.)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE : Self description; Response paper 1.

ADVANCE READINGS:

In We Are Everywhere: A Historical Sourcebook for Gay and Lesbian Politics, ed. Mark Blasius and Shane Phelan. NY: Routledge, 1997 (WAE):
Bohan, "Introduction"
"Context," pp. 239-40
Donald Webster Cory, "The Society We Envisage," pp. 275-281
"Mattachine Foundation/Mattachine Society, Mission Statement and Membership Pledge," pp. 283-285
David Freeman, "The Homosexual Culture," pp. 313-315
Lyn Pederson, "The Importance of Being Different," pp. 320-323
"Daughters of Bilitis," p. 327
"Daughters of Bilitis, Statement of Purpose," p. 328; "1958
Leo Ebreo, "A Homosexual Ghetto?" pp. 339-343.

Urvashi Vaid, Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay and Lesbian Liberation. NY: Anchor Books, 1995, pp. 47-54.
Audre Lorde, Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, pp. 176-183; 220-226.
On the McCarthy's anti-homosexual, anti-Communist witch hunts in Gay American History by Jonathan Katz, Avon Books, 1976, pp. 139-161.
American Civil Liberties Union, "Policy Sttatement adopted by the Union's Board of Directors," January 7, 1957, pp. 274-275
Barbara Gittings; "Founding the New York Daughters of Bilitis," in Jonathan Katz, Gay American History, (Avon Books, 1976), pp. 632-651.
WEEK 3, September 17, 2003

TOPIC: History, II

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 2.

ADVANCE READINGS:

In WAE:
Dorothy L. Martin, "If That's All there Is," pp. 352-355
Carl Wittman, "A Gay Manifesto," pp. 380-388
Martha Shelley, "Gay is Good," pp. 391-393
Radicalesbians, "The Woman-Identified Woman," pp. 396-399
Robin Morgan, "Lesbianism and Feminism: Synonyms or Contradictions?", pp. 424-435.

In Julia Penelope & Susan Wolfe, eds., Lesbian Culture: An Anthology. Freedom CA: The Crossing Press, 1993 (LC):
Michal Brody, "Some Historical Background," pp. 496-499.
Julia Penelope and Susan J. Wolfe, "Introduction: Lesbian Identity/Lesbian Communities/Lesbian Culture: Creating Our Survival," pp. 1-22
Judy Grahn, "A History of Lesbianism" (poem), pp. 29-30
Judy Grahn, "Carol, in the park, chewing on straws," (poem), pp. 181-182
Karen Escovitz and Elliott, "Big Dykes With Attitude," (poem), pp. 331-332

Urvashi Vaid, Virtual Equality, pp. 54-68.
Dudley Clindenen and Adam Nagourney, "Talking "Bout a Revolution." In Out, June 1999, pp. 92-99.
Roey Thorpe, "Growing in Defiance," in Lavender Mansions, 40 Contemporary Lesbian and Gay Short Stories, ed. Irene Zahava (Westview Press, 1994), pp. 72-76.
"Finding Your Niche Within the Lesbian Community," in Do What I Say: Ms. Manners' Guide to Gay & Lesbian Etiquette, pp. 8-15.

Watch outside of class: Film: Ruth Ellis at 100
WEEK 4, September 24, 2003

TOPICS: History, III: Gay Men; HIV/AIDS
Film in class: The Times of Harvey Milk (87 min)

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 3.

ADVANCE READINGS:

GAY MEN:
Mike Hippler, "Dear Abby, Am I Too Gay," in ...so little time: essays on gay life. Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 1990, pp. 3-8.
Kevin Dilallo and Jack Krumholtz, The Unofficial Gay Manual. NY: Main St. Books, 1994, cover & pages 60-66.
"Finding Your Niche Within the Gay Community," in Do What I Say: Ms. Manners' Guide to Gay & Lesbian Etiquette, pp. 45-53.
In Lavender Mansions: "Public Display," by Michael Schwartz, pp. 198-207.
Paul Bonin-Rodriguez, "Talk of the Town," in Men on Men 5: Best New Gay Fiction, ed. David Bergman. NY: Plume, 1994. pp. 17-31.
J. Keiko Lane, "With a Chorus of Naked Queers," in Generation Q (Los Angeles: Alyson, 1995), pp. 224-232.

HIV/AIDS:
David B. Feinberg, "Despair: August 1987," in Lavender Mansions, pp. 314-322.
Leslea Newman, "Something Shiny," in Lavender Mansions, pp. 147-162.
In WAE:
Larry Kramer, "1,112 and Counting," pp. 577-586
"An Act UP/NY Portfolio," 622-23.
WEEK 5, October 1, 2003

TOPIC: What should be the "Gay Agenda"?; Strategy debates: Queer Identity v. Assimilationism

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 4.

ADVANCE READINGS:

Leslea Newman, A Letter to Harvey Milk (Ithaca, NY Firebrand Books, 1988), pp. 32-47.
Bruce Bawer, "A sea of homosexuals," in A Place at the Table: The Gay Individual in American Society. NY: Poseidon Press, 1993, pp. 17-51.
Lindsy Van Gelder and Pamela Brandt, "Desire Under the Palms: The Dinah Shore Party Circuit," pp. 125-140, and "The Fire Will Not Consume Us (But Processing Might)," pp, 213-262 in The Girls Next Door: Into the Heart of Lesbian America. NY: Simon & Schuster, (1996).
Penny D. Perkins, "What is a Lesbian Date?" and Masha Gessen, "Desperately Seeking Same," in Girlfriend Number One: Lesbian Life in the 90s. Pittsburgh: Cleis Press, 1994, pp. 12-28.
Alison Bechdel, selected comic strips from Spawn of Dykes to Watch Out For. (Ithaca, Firebrand Books, 1993).
Ted Gideonse, "The Bisexual," cover story in The Advocate, 6/24/97.
Ana Castillo, "Lover Boys," in Tasting Life Twice: Literary Fiction by New American Writers, ed. E.J. Levy. (NY: Avon, 1995), pp. 130-139.
Jennifer DiMarco, "Moral Fabrics," pp. 199-209, Anna Meyers-Parelli, "Significant Others: A Queer Autobiography," pp. 213-220 and Justin Chin, "Q-Punk Grammar," pp. 237-239, in Generation Q , (Los Angeles, Alyson, 1996.
In WAE:
Hunter Madsen and Marshall Kirk, "Strategy: Persuasion, Not Invasion," pp. 736-753
Anonymous, "Queers Read This: I Hate Straights," pp. 773-780
Arnie Kantrowitz, "Letter to the Queer Generation," pp. 812-817.
WEEK 6, October 8, 2003

TOPIC: Sodomy Ruling; Same-Sex Marriage, 1: the current political and legal landscape

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 5. Note: you should have completed at least one of your field trips by now.

ADVANCE READINGS:

Sodomy Ruling:
Lyle Denniston, "Court reverses gay sex ban," in The Boston Globe 6/27/03
"The Petitioners are entitled to respect." Associated Press 6/27/03
Peter Edinin, "In Changing the Law of the Land, Six Justices Turned to Its History," in The New York Times, 7/20/03.
Tasha Robertson, "Gays, lesbians praise decision," in The Boston Globe, 6/27/03.
OPTIONAL:
Complete text of the sodomy decision: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/02pdf/02-102.pdf

Same-Sex Marriage:
Kathleen Burge, "State's gay marriage backers are elated," in The Boston Globe, 6/27/03.
Frank Bruni, "Vatican Exhorts Legislators to Reject Same-Sex Unions," The New York Times, 8/1/03.
Elisabeth Bumiller, "Cold Feet: Why America Has Gay Marriage Jitters," 8/20/03.
Kimberly Blanton, "Exclusionary Costs: Legal Marriage could ease gay couple's financial inequities," Boston Globe, 7/29/03.
Boston Globe, editorial: "For Gay Marriage," 7/8/03.
Human Rights Campaign: The State of the Family (41 pp., free pdf download); Couples/Partners, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, Equal Marriage
Lambda Legal on civil unions, domestic partnership, marriage.
WEEK 7, October 15, 2003

TOPIC: Same Sex Marriage, 2: Should this be a priority?

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 6 and midterm paper.

ADVANCE READINGS:

In WAE:
Thomas B. Stoddard, "Why Gay People Should Seek the Right to Marry," pp. 753-757
Diane Benjamin & Patti Christensen, "To All That Shall Be-Yes!" pp. 49-54
Trinity Ordoña and Desirée Thompson, "A Thousand Cranes," pp. 81-90.

Paula L. Ettelbrick, "Since When is Marriage a Path to Liberation?", in Ceremonies of the Heart: Celebrating Lesbian Unions. Seattle: Seal Press, 1990, pp. 757-761
Meredith Maran, "Journal: October 11, 1987," in Out/Look, Spring 1988.
Judith Levine, "Stop the Wedding!" in The Village Voice 7/23/03.
WEEK 8, October 22, 2003

TOPIC: Choosing Children

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 7; field trip journals.

ADVANCE READINGS:

In Lesbians Raising Sons, ed. Jess Wells. Los Angeles, Alyson, (1997) :
Sara Asch, "On the Way to the Water," (pp. 3-9)
Audre Lorde, "Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist's Response," (pp. 31-37)
Cindy T. Rizzo, "Piercing Times," (pp. 78-81)

Megan McGuire, "Livin' in a Gay Family," in the Harvard Educational Review, Vol. 66,2, Summer 1996, pp. 182-184.
Human Rights Campaign, Parenting
 Lambda Legal, Family
 NGLTF, Families
WEEK 9, October 29, 2003

TOPIC: "The Rest of Us": Race, Class, and Geography

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 8.

ADVANCE READINGS:

In LC: Terri de la Peña, "Tortilleras," (short story), pp. 304-308.
Pat Parker, "Boots are being polished," (poem) pp. 74-78, and "My lover is a woman," (poem) pp. 98-100, in Movement in Black. Ithaca NY: Firebrand Books, 1978.
Andy Quan, "Immigration," in Contra/diction: New Queer Male Fiction, ed. Brett Josef Grubisik. Vancouver, Arsenal Pulp Press, 1998.
Barbara Smith, "Where Has Gay Liberation Gone? An Interview With Barbara Smith" in Homo Economics, pp. 195-207. Lambda Legal on Immigration, Asylum, and International Human Right
 NGLTF, Racial Justice
 NGLTF, Class

In Does Your Mama Know? An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories:
Makeda Silvera, "Man Royals and Sodomites: Some Thoughts on the Invisibility of Afro-Caribbean Lesbians," pp. 171-183
Imani Henry, "Bits and Pieces," pp. 49-66
Tonia Bryan, "Pure," pp. 213-221.
WEEK 10, November 5, 2003

TOPIC: "The Rest of Us": Bi and Tran

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 9; final paper topic.

ADVANCE READINGS:

Bi:
In Bi Any Other Name: Bisexuals Speak Out, ed. Lani Ka'ahumanu and Loraine Hutchins. (Boston: Alyson, 1991)
Susan Carlton, "This poem can be put off no longer," (pp. 14-16)
Ronda Slater, "What I need is," (pp. 87-88)
Sheilah Mabry, "Conflicts," (pp. 299-302)
Sharon Hwang Colligan, "One," (pp. 247-251)

Wade Baker, "The Bisexual Agenda," in Out in Black (May/June 1997), Vol. 2/3.
Bruce Bawer, "Bisexuality and confusion," in Bay Windows 9/14/95, p. 6, and responses by Fred Chin, Marcia Deihl, Robyn Ochs and Ray Ishigata in Bay Windows 9/25/95.
Andrew Rapp, "Try Coming Out as Bisexual," in Bay Windows 2/17/03.
Lani Ka'ahumanu, "That Naked Place," (poem) in Bisexuality: The Identity and Politics of an Invisible Minority (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1996), pp. xv-xviii.

Trans:
Lesbians for Justice, "Resolution Condemning Discrimination Against and Exclusion of Transsexual Lesbians Within the Gay and Lesbian Community," and "An Open Letter to the Organizers of the
Michigan Women's Music Festival," pp. 808-811.
Lisa Vogel, "Michigan Women's Music Festival," in Lesbian Connection, Nov/Dec 1999.
R.J. Grubb, Michigan: two camps face off over trans inclusion, in Bay Windows, 8/28/03.
Jeff Epperly, "Trangender political machinations," in Bay Windows, 6/24/99.
National Transgender Advocacy Coalition, "Recent Spate of Legislation Leaves Transgender Behind," 7/22/03
Mubarik Dahir, "Whose Movement is It?" in The Advocate 5/25/99.
Ethan Jacobs, Trans inclusion a gray area for Boston schools in Bay Windows 8/28/03.
NGLTF, Transgender
Lambda Legal on Trans
WEEK 11, November 12, 2003

TOPIC: Aging

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Response paper 10.

ADVANCE READINGS:

Arnold H. Grossman, "The Virtual and Actual Identities of Older Lesbians and Gay Men," in A Queer World, ed. Martin Duberman. NY: NYU Press, 1997, pp. 615-625.
Monika Kehoe, Lesbians Over Sixty Speak for Themselves. NY: Harrington Park Press, 1989, 11-28, 34-41.

In Quiet Fire: Memoirs of Older Gay Men, ed. Cassie Damewood. (Trumansberg NY: The Crossing Press, 1985), stories by Todd Grison (pp. 23-33), Bob Basker (pp. 43-57), and Greg Aarons (170-184)

In Lavender Mansions: 40 Contemporary Lesbian & Gay Short Stories: "D.O.M.," by Donald Vining, pp. 407-413; "In The Life," by Becky Birtha, pp. 414-423.
"Gay and gray," by Janet Kornblum in The Advocate, 7/8/97, pp. 46-48.
Yvonne Abraham, "Gay elders emerge from long isolation," in Boston Globe, June 9, 2003. National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Elders http://www.hrc.org/familynet
Human Rights Campaign on Aging, Lambda Legal on Older Lesbians & Gay Men
WEEK 12, November 19, 2003

TOPIC: Presentations

ASSIGNMENT DUE: all and any make-up work.

ADVANCE READINGS:

Laura Secor, "Rainbow Warriors." The Boston Globe, 8/3/03
Additional readings, to be decided.
WEEK 13, December 3, 2003

TOPIC: Conclusions and predictions

ASSIGNMENT DUE: Final paper.

Aging, Campus, Civil Rights, Class, Domestic Partnership, Electing supportive representatives, Families, Hate Crimes, Health, HIV/AIDS, the Military, Racial Justice, Religion, Marriage Equality, Safe Schools, Sodomy Laws, Bi, Trans, Youth… What should be "The Gay Agenda"?