Course Theme Readings

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READINGS OVERVIEW:

Each section and subsection heading is shown in bold type. If a certain section/subsection is assigned, it is expected that you read all of the texts listed for that day’s assignment. Many texts are available online. Parenthetical information following the listing indicates where you may locate the text (i.e. “Reserve” means Library Reserve, “JSTOR” is a journal database). The textual information is not in MLA citation format; to cite works, you will have to follow the guidelines in SMH.

Definitions | Scientific Perspectives | Historical Perspectives | Religious Perspectives | Contemporary Cultural Perspectives | Written Lives | Sacrifices and Standards | Reverberations & Metaphors

Definitions

            For this assignment, you will research definitions in order to create a “field guide” of sorts for our work this semester. Look up each of these terms in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED)  and copy the primary definition (and, if necessary, the one you believe “applies” to our theme). You should note when the term was first used in its relevant context. Cite the OED according to MLA. Now, look to at least one other source (not a general use dictionary) to add balance or dimension to your definition. For example, if you are taking Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology, you may wish to consult the glossary in your textbooks for certain terms you will define.  Do not use the same additional text for all of your definitions. You do need to include those additional definitions in your document, and cite them according to MLA.  You may wish to review the online encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer culture located at http://www.glbtq.com.

Terms:

bulletBisexuality
bulletDrag
bulletDyke
bulletFaggot
bulletGay
bulletHomosexuality
bulletLesbian
bulletOut/Outing
bulletPerversion
bulletQueer
bulletSexual Orientation
bulletSodomy
bulletTranssexual
bulletTransgender

Consider: Why assign these terms? What is the point of looking up words? Did all of these terms mean what you thought they did? Were you surprised as to the origins of any of these terms?

Note: The OED, JSTOR, and ProQuest databases are just three examples of the resources available through Buley online. With your library login and PIN, you can access from off-campus. If you do not have a PIN, you will need it! See "Tips for Using Your Library Record" for more information, or visit Buley and ask the staff to help you.

Scientific Perspectives

bullet “Homosexuality and Sexual Orientation Disturbance: Proposed Change in DSM-II, 6th Printing, page 44.”  (American Psychiatric Association)
bulletDL Davis and RJ Whitten. “The Cross-Cultural Study of Human Sexuality.” Annual Review of Anthropology. 16 (1987). 69-98. (JSTOR)
bullet"Is There A Gay Gene?" (NARTH )
bullet"In Search of the 'Gay Gene.'" Jack Lucentini. The Washington Post. Washington, D.C.: Feb 19, 2001. p. A.15 (Newsstand)
bulletGene Scan Suggests Homosexuality Origin (Gay.com)

Historical Perspectives

Please note: the indexing system for the historical New York Times does not always work as we would like; searching by article title may not work. You may need to search for all articles published on a particular date.

bulletWilliam S. White. “Inquiry by Senate on Perverts Asked.” New York Times May 20, 1950. 8.
bullet"Navy Ousts Sex Offender; Accused Officer Resigns -- 24 Sailors Also Being Dismissed"
New York Times. Aug 31, 1952. 32.
bullet“Police Again Rout ‘Village’ Youths.” NYT. Jun. 30, 1969. 22.
bullet “Pneumocystis Pneumonia—Los Angeles” (Jun 5, 1981)
bullet“Lawrence v. Texas: A Victory for Liberty.” Citron, Jo Ann. The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide. Boston: Nov/Dec 2003. Vol. X, Iss. 6; p. 18. (ProQuest)
bulletfrom Joel J. Zea's "This is OUR House: The Rise and Fall of A Homosexual Social Institution": Read up to "Methods" on page 9.
bullet Kerrigan and Mock v. Connecticut Dept. of Health (Glad.org)
bulletOptional
bullet Meet the Plaintiffs
bullet Federal Marriage Amendment: Proposed Text (ACLU)

You may find it useful to "Google" some of the references (such as Stonewall Inn) in this set of readings in order to consider the significance of some of these texts.

Religious Perspectives

bulletJim Hill and Rand Cheadle (Library Reserve):
bullet“Guilt, Crime, and Punishment: To Justify Discrimination, Intolerance, and Violence Toward Homosexuals”
bullet“Guilt, Crime, and Punishment: To Provide Spiritual Strength and Acceptance to Homosexuals.”
bullet Dennis Prager. “Judaism’s Sexual Revolution: Why Judaism (and then Christianity) Rejected Homosexuality”
bulletEd Madden. “An Open Letter to My Christian Friends.” (Library Reserve)
bulletLa Escondida. “Journey toward Wholeness: Reflections of a Lesbian Rabbi.” (Library Reserve)
bulletFred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church. "What Is A Fag?"
bulletMorrissey. "I Have Forgiven Jesus" (song is from the CD You Are the Quarry, 2004, Attack Records Group). Realplayer. Lyrics.
bulletOptional:
bullet "Homosexuality and Bisexuality: All Sides to the Issue" (ReligiousTolerance.org)
bullet"Bouncers" Ad (United Church of Christ) RealPlayer | Windows Media | QuickTime | AVI | Mpeg1

Contemporary Cultural Perspectives

bullet"10 Myths About Priestly Homophobia" (Catholic Educators' Resource Center) See #6
bulletThe Abel and Harlow Child Molestation Prevention Study (11-12)
bullet

The Journal of Social Psychology, 2005, 145(1), 65–83. “The Components of Sexual Orientation, Religiosity, and Heterosexuals’ Impressions of Gay Men and Lesbians.” WAYNE W. WILKINSON and ANDREW C. ROYS. Read 65-68 (to Study I) and 78-80 (beginning with “General Discussion”). You are welcomed to read the article in its entirety

bullet

Technical Report by the American Academy of Pediatrics: Coparent or Second-Parent Adoption by Same-Sex Parents

bullet

"Will Sponge Bob Make You Gay?"

bulletS. Bear Bergman: "Pardon Me, Have You Seen My Sexual Orientation?"

Written Lives & Responses

bulletHeinz Heger's Arrival at Sachsenhausen (Triangles Roses) (A bit outside of our geographical area)
bulletRuthie and Connie: Every Room in the House (film synopsis)
bulletRuth Ellis
bulletRuth Ellis: Portrait of a 100-Year-Old Lesbian (Curve Magazine)
bulletRuth Ellis 1899-2000 (Lesbian Legacy Collection at USC)
bullet Harvey Milk
bulletDave Kopay Profile
bullet Poster Boy
bulletOptional:
bulletOut of the Past, documentary at PBS-- click on timeline and dates
bullet"Musician's Death at 74 Reveals He Was a Woman" New York Times, Feb 2, 1989. p. A18
bulletAIDS Quilt Images from CT: Imperial Court CT; Hospital of St. Raphael; St. Luke's Community Church, Stamford; Mid-Fairfield AIDS Project, Norwalk; In Memory of Our Patients, Norwalk Hospital; Friends and Family of Windham Tech, Windham; To The AIDS Victims of Litchfield County; HIV/AIDS Unit Hartford CT
bulletMelvin Dixon (Bio.), "Aunt Ida Pieces a Quilt"

Sacrifices and Standards

bullet Katherine Ramsland. “Teena Brandon: A Young Transsexual Who Is Murdered in a Hate Crime.” (chapters 1-7)
bullet AAUP Report: Albertus Magnus College (American Association of University Professors)
bullet Documenting Courage: Veterans Speak Out (Human Rights Campaign)
bulletEric Marcus: "The Bridge Builder: Kathleen Boatwright" (Library Reserve)
bulletThe Lady Chablis

Reverberations and Metaphors

bullet Jeanette Winterson. “Vintage Living Texts.”
bulletFlavio Risech: "Political and Cultural Cross-Dressing: Negotiating a Second Generation Cuban-American Identity" (reserve)
bulletCarmen Vazquez: "Appearances" (reserve)
bulletRobert McRuer: "Composing Bodies; or De-Composition: Queer Theory, Disability Studies, and Alternative Corporealities" (reserve)
bulletConnie Monson and Jacqueline Rhodes: "Risking Queer: Pedagogy, Performativity, and Desire in Writing Classrooms" (reserve)
bulletOptional
bullet 

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