Week 6 Flashcards
What event led to the organization of the national gay and lesbian march in Washington DC?
The assassination of Harvey Milk and the antigay work of Bryant and Briggs.
This event occurred in October 1979 and marked the birth of a national movement.
What did the Combahee River Collective focus on in their activism?
Struggling against racial, sexual, heterosexual, and class oppression.
They emphasized the interlocking nature of these systems of oppression.
Define ‘simultaneity’ as used by the Combahee River Collective.
The commitment to work on struggles where race, sex, and class are simultaneous factors in oppression.
This concept highlights the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression.
What is the main idea behind identity politics according to the Combahee River Collective?
The most profound politics comes from our own identity rather than working to end someone else’s oppression.
This reflects a focus on personal and collective identity in activism.
True or False: The Combahee River Collective considered their work as solely focused on Black lesbian feminists.
False.
They believed in coalitional politics and working with others beyond their specific identity group.
What was Urvashi Vaid’s perspective on AIDS and the Right’s response?
AIDS provided the Right with ammunition to expand its war against homosexuality.
This reflects the political climate during the AIDS crisis.
What was the dominant narrative about gay life during the AIDS crisis?
It was presented as a dangerous, immoral, perverse lifestyle, constructing a dehumanized other as a threat to a healthy America.
This narrative contributed to stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ individuals.
Fill in the blank: Many people react to the presence of gays and lesbians with a politics of _______.
disgust.
This reaction has historically justified legal restrictions against LGBTQ individuals.
What were the two political approaches in AIDS activism described by Stulberg?
- Liberationist
- Assimilationist
These approaches represented different strategies in the fight against AIDS and for LGBTQ rights.
How did art and popular culture contribute to AIDS activism in the 1980s?
They were mobilized for social change to express anger, fear, and frustration and spur action.
This highlights the role of cultural expression in activism.
What does Stulberg argue about privilege in AIDS activism?
Privilege, particularly related to race, class, and gender, played a significant role.
This reflects the intersectional nature of activism during the AIDS crisis.
What is one of the primary arguments of Stulberg’s book regarding social change movements?
Movements for social change take many different forms.
This emphasizes the diversity of strategies and approaches within activism.
What is the significance of the Combahee River Collective in the context of LGBTQ+ history?
They highlight the importance of intersectional politics and the understanding of multiple interlocking oppressions.
Their perspective enriches the narrative of LGBTQ+ movements.
What is one example of an AIDS activism initiative mentioned?
- ACT UP
- AIDS Quilt
- Zurn’s affinity group
These initiatives challenged dominant narratives about LGBTQ individuals and the AIDS crisis.
What does the term ‘assimilationist’ refer to in the context of AIDS activism?
Working in direct relationship with the state to protect citizens’ rights.
This approach contrasts with more radical liberationist tactics.
What does the Combahee River Collective’s statement about identity politics suggest?
It suggests that understanding one’s own oppression is crucial for effective activism.
This concept emphasizes personal identity as a foundation for political action.
What historical context influenced the attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals in the 1980s?
The rise of explicit homophobia and the AIDS crisis.
This context affected public perception and policy regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
What did Stulberg say about the new radical groups in the late 1980s?
They extended ACT UP’s logic of visibility, reclaiming the word ‘queer’ and mobilizing on an assertion of difference rather than sameness with straight people.
According to Ryan, what does ‘queer’ now represent?
It means to be righteously angry about homophobia and the AIDS crisis, politically militant, free of shame about nonnormative sexualities, and unconcerned about social acceptance.
What are some core aspects of queer politics in the 1980s?
- Language appropriation
- Confrontation
- High profile actions for media attention
- Visibility of queer people in straight spaces
- Politics of difference and non-normative characteristics
What is the goal of queer politics as described in the text?
To destabilize assumed categories and binaries of sexual identity and encourage fluidity in people’s sexual lives.
What critique does Cohen offer regarding queer politics?
It assumes a simple dichotomy between those deemed queer and those deemed heterosexual, prioritizing sexuality and ignoring intersecting systems of power.
What does Cohen say about the assumption of heteronormativity in queer politics?
It is an unchallenged assumption from which all heterosexuals benefit, leading to a limited queer politics.
What does Cohen call for in terms of queer politics?
A new political identity based on an intersectional analysis inclusive of those outside the dominant norm of state-sanctioned white middle-and upper-class heterosexuality.
Fill in the blank: Cohen envisions a politics where one’s relation to _______ is privileged in determining political comrades.
[power]
What does Cohen emphasize as important for developing political analyses and strategies?
Recognizing the link between ideological, social, political, and economic marginalization.
What is one function of movement memes according to the text?
- Name struggles
- Create common symbols
- Frame problems
- Communicate demands
- Pass on lessons
True or False: Movement memes can dramatically increase the impact of an action or campaign.
True
What was the title of the reading assigned for the next class?
The ‘B’ and the ‘T’
Who is the author of ‘The Rise of Transgender Social Movements: Narrative Symbolism and History’?
Aultman, Lee
What is the due date for Participation Assignment 3?
Tuesday
