• queer people interested in a creative, safe, affirming space,
• parents working through their child/children’s rejection of heteronormativity,
• anyone who isn't entirely sure what heteronormativity (or any number of other terms surrounding sex and gender) is,
• anyone interested in how these fundamental ideas affect our lives and interactions,
• anyone interested in how these fundamental ideas can be expressed/challenged through art,
• anyone interested in expressing/challenging these ideas through art,
• anyone interested in exploring sex/sexuality/gender as creative terrain,
• anyone who lives in a society where sex and gender create expectation,
• YOU
Is it a Queer/Gender Theory Class or a creative writing class?
Both!
Theory is useless if it doesn't reflect our daily, lived experience.
Queer/Gender Theory is everywhere - in our homes, in our sexual
encounters, on our dating/hook up apps, in our workplaces. The writing
component allows participants to make those connections in a powerful
way.
Are your workshops more for the LGBTQ+ community or for cishet people?
The answer is YES! My workshops are brought to life by the varied experiences of the participants. I have found that the LGBTQ+ community, especially LGBTQ+ teens, find an affirmation of self based on a celebration of their voices as well as exposure to Queer artists and thinkers, most of whom are unknown to them as our Queer ancestors aren't taught in school. Cishet people tend to walk away with a new understanding of how their identities are situated in the world. This context allows them to shorten the distance they may feel between themselves and the queer community.
(PS If you don't know what "cishet" means, you need to take my workshop!)
Do I need to have a background in Queer Theory to take the workshop?
Absolutely
not! I'm happy to work with anyone from those who work within the realm
of Queer and Gender Theory to those who don't have the foggiest idea
what it means to be poly.
Do I need to be a writer to take the workshop?
Again, absolutely not! The
writing generated in the workshops does not focus on a product, but on
exploration, questions, and curiosity. I always tell participants that
messy is the goal. Inconsistencies and contradictions are celebrated.
The point is not to become a poet laureate - although if that's your
path, have at it! The point is to unearth our truest selves by setting
our creative minds free.
Can I start the workshops late or do I need to take from the beginning?
Part
of this process is about building community. Therefore, it's important
that participants move through the process together, establishing
relationships and trust. For these reasons, participants can not join
the workshops mid-cycle.
How many people are in each workshop?
I like a smaller, more intimate group, especially in the age of Zoom. Each workshop group caps at 8.Do you offer one day workshops and lectures?
Why YES! Yes, I do. I offer this work in a variety of contexts and modalities. Please contact me for:
• PRIDE events,
• campus and community LGBTQ+ Centers,
• teachers and school districts interested in providing a more welcoming and inclusive classroom environment for all of their student’s bodies,
• libraries seeking creative, social justice programming,
• companies interested in actively pursuing their DEI goals.