No More Cincinnati GenderQueers

I have just found out that the radical, genderqueer activist organization I founded almost four years ago has reworded its description. What once described the group as “a radical queer group for all gender identities and sexualities, focusing on queer, trans, and genderqueer issues” now reads that it is a “queer social, support and activist group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied students focusing on gender issues.” In the year and a half I have been gone, GenderBloc has gone from being a genderqueer and trans focused, queer radical organization to a LGBTQ social activist group… and just like the rest of the movement gender has moved from the forefront to an afterthought.

I cried when I read it.

Now the current focus of the group is “LGBTQ rights, inclusion, and visibility” and that it discusses “topics of gender a lot particularly in regards [to] those people who have a non-normative gender identity such as transgender or genderqueer.” Well, at least they talk about gender “a lot.” They wouldn’t want to leave “those people” out. They need our money and our blood to power our movement machine. They need us to die on the front lines because they are too pretty to do it. They need us to stir their souls into knowing that there is more here than what we’ve all been told… but they’ll never tell anyone about it.

I realize that this is an honest attempt to make GenderBloc better. I realize this makes GenderBloc more packagable. I realize that some people feel queer isn’t good enough and need to separate us into an acronym. I realize that there aren’t hoards of genderqueers around Cincinnati so people think we don’t need help. And I’ve finally realized that GenderBloc isn’t my baby anymore…

Someone once said to me, “I love GenderBloc is because its a place to belong for people who have never belonged anywhere.” It was one of the best things anyone has ever said to me, and I’ll always have that.

x-posted Amplifyyourvoice.org

GIE Policy came through!

It happened!

The University of Cincinnati has officially included Gender Identity and Expression in it’s Non-Discrimination Policy. Now anyone who’s transgender, genderqueer, gender-variant, or queer is now protected from discrimination and hate crimes!

I started working on this project two years ago. Two years of working and finally we are all safe on campus. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the first printed draft. There in the middle of the paragraph read: Gender Identity and Expression.

I think I’m still in shock. After two years of working, I can’t believe this has actually happened. With this new policy we will be able to enact a residence hall policy, a gender neutral bathroom policy, locker rooms, IDs and registration and so much more. The preferred name format for university registration is going to come through in the next year and the residence hall work is already underway.

I’m so glad that I was able to be here when this happened and see the project to it’s completion.


Myself with fellow activists Jane and Kim after we got the news.

cross-posted on AmplifyYourVoice.org

Teaching Intensity!

man, just taught a class for an hour and 1/2. it was a good class but I feel like I just came through a war. Teaching really takes it out of ya. I re-amped my queer oppression lecture and it came out much better than the last time I did it. It covers a wider scope of things and is more of a “think about what is ‘normal’ and why” kind of thing than just a “here’s some gay stuff” thing.

I had them laughing a lot more than my usual classes… They always laugh, I try to be funny. They laughed more this time probably because I kept talking about sex. I was in a good mood I guess. They seemed to have a good time, though I know that it was an intense amount of information. I kept their attention which is really good, especially cause there was about 200 of them.

I keep trying to get better at lecturing, and I think I am. I sometimes am a little over-the-top, I think. But at the same time, it keeps the kids’ attention. They laugh and respond to me. I usually feel a sense of shock at the end though, maybe cause I put a ton of energy into it and afterwards I’m like “whoa, what just happened!”

Intense. Intense. It’s over. All better now. Good lecture. Good time.

GenderBloc’s gonna have an intense meeting tonight too, but not as much an active learning intense as a ton of work and stress intense. It’ll be ok. Today is just an intense day.

I need a break.