tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post6352175956157204233..comments2024-03-09T03:20:20.004-05:00Comments on Tenured Radical: Straight People, Listen! Part II: The Homophobia News Of The Week In ReviewTenured Radicalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05703980598547163290noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-70088599999741680712010-10-18T14:17:24.424-05:002010-10-18T14:17:24.424-05:00I agree with your critique, though also wanted to ...I agree with your critique, though also wanted to point to a (non-video) contribution that highlights the fact that the teachers aren't just standing on the sidelines ignoring, they may be actively part of the problem:<br /><br />http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2010/10/it-gets-better.html<br /><br />The underlying issue of treating it as a developmental phase issue (it's bad in school but gets better when you are an adult) just reiterates what almost all public discussion of youth does, though. And that is a much bigger problem. <br /><br />We need to see the activities, identities, feelings, etc. of children and youth as having value in the present instead of always viewing them as "becoming".<br /><br />I, too, am sad that the changes that have happened over the past 30 years or so are still such a drop in the bucket.JoVEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16680602039278597976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-50541735346544347752010-10-17T00:04:05.626-05:002010-10-17T00:04:05.626-05:00I have been teaching Radclyffe Hall's 1928 nov...I have been teaching Radclyffe Hall's 1928 novel The Well of Loneliness for the last two weeks, and I think my whole class agreed that we are beyond sad that the conversations are the same, almost a centuiry later. It gets better, but it doesn't really. Not until people stop relying on fear and hate instead of logic, toleance...dare I say, just plain love?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-85688088216837277192010-10-15T15:35:24.448-05:002010-10-15T15:35:24.448-05:00I'm glad you pointed out the potential problem...I'm glad you pointed out the potential problem with some of the "It Gets Better" interventions: namely, that so many of us (queer adults) are promising these kids that it will all get better when they go to college. I think even Dan Savage (or maybe his husband?) in their original video said something like "it got better the DAY I went to college".<br /><br />Not sure what one can do about that, though. The targeted audience for these videos - despairing queer youth - are not likely to be in a place where subtle distinctions will help ("well, for many of us, it got better at college, but that's no guarantee, it kind of depends on all sorts of things", etc.) It's a tricky one. <br /><br />Of course, the only remotely satisfying answer is a systemic and unapologetic addressing of institutionalised homophobia in all levels of school, and (natch) of its societal sources ... but while waiting for pigs to fly, perhaps those of us teaching in universities can become that little bit more aware of what some of our students may be going through, and step up some more.LouMacnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-55543424064468127232010-10-14T21:52:40.479-05:002010-10-14T21:52:40.479-05:00Hi G. Adams,
I was trying to say that I don't...Hi G. Adams,<br /><br />I was trying to say that I don't think DADT and gay marriage are the only things that need to change in order to stop all these suicides. It also has to do with racism, classism, the police state, etc. <br />The second part of my original post was trying to point out that it is the cumulative affects. While getting DADT overturned and legalizing gay marriage will help, I don't want people to think that is all they need to do.Becki Hnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-11772864714056896532010-10-14T18:21:10.727-05:002010-10-14T18:21:10.727-05:00Becki H said...
I am also tired of hearing people ...<b> Becki H said...<br />I am also tired of hearing people say that queer youth are killing themselves because of DADT and the illegality of gay marriage. While it is true that these things are helping to promote homophobia, queer you are not thinking of that when they are 13 and suicidal.</b><br /><br />Really? Maybe young Tommy isn't following the details of the debate on DADT or Marriage Equality but he's sure to hear all the opinions around him that feature slurs and condemnation of people like him. <br /><br />Its the weight of everything that contributes. And, that includes the atmosphere around public debates about legislation. Reading the link you provided makes the point that it is the cummulative affect of ALL of these things that makes life particularly difficult for one segment of our adolescent population and which makes them more vulnerable not only to the predations of those with violent tendencies (either verbal or physical forms of bullying) but to the messages we send to them about their worth and their inclusion in our society.<br /><br />You may be "tired of hearing people say" these things but I'll bet that people on the receiving end of these bigoted laws and vile terms of what passes for public debate are beyond "tired." Your post sounds like so many others that frame the issue in terms that express sadness over these tragedies but ultimately try to pitch the blame off the tormenting society and on to some formulation of "other factors in the youth's life!"<br /><br />I for one am more than tired of it.<br /><br />G.AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36212542.post-60023457102947552332010-10-14T18:03:52.218-05:002010-10-14T18:03:52.218-05:00I am also tired of hearing people say that queer y...I am also tired of hearing people say that queer youth are killing themselves because of DADT and the illegality of gay marriage. While it is true that these things are helping to promote homophobia, queer you are not thinking of that when they are 13 and suicidal. <br />I read a great article earlier today (http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/ARTICLE.php?AID=29016) that pointed out that we need to think about all parts of people's identities when looking at what is happening. The author, Yasmin Nair, is really spot on with her thoughts.Becki Hnoreply@blogger.com