This post is written by Sofia Encarnacion, a Diversity & Inclusion Peer at the Mosaic Center. Sofia is a rising junior Economics and Mathematics major. In her spare time, she likes to play Animal Crossing. She also finally watched Avatar the Last Airbender.
Paris is Burning is a 1990 documentary that explores drag ball culture and centers predominantly trans & gay people of color. The director, Jennie Livingston- a White cis lesbian woman- received multiple Academy awards for her work. The documentary’s trans, gay, people of color subjects remained in poverty and many had AIDs-related deaths. When I first watched the documentary a year ago, I felt attracted to and disappointed by the stories told. The glamour and opulence of the balls were a huge focus while the abandonment, homelessness, poverty, disease, and death had an “it is what it is” tone to it.
I’ve had a few conversations within my social circles about Paris Is Burning. Some regard it as a monumental piece of media for queer culture, others have never heard of it. The latter group was unfamiliar with a lot of drag culture in general, with the exception of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But both groups of people are familiar with terms like “tea” “werk,” "reading,” and “throwing shade” which all originate from drag ball culture. However, these are not the only examples of queer POC culture being popularized without recognition.
Madonna’s hit song “Vogue” and the dancing associated with it was directly inspired by the vogue dancers and choreographers from the Harlem ballroom scene. Many Black and Latinxartists and entertainers throughout history were queer, but that is often unacknowledged or erased. For historical figures, there wasn’t common usage of a term that identified bisexual or trans people, so historians also have difficulty determining the identities of people who are suspected to not be cishet.
I’m a 20-year-old bisexual, cis, Latina trying my best to navigate a wealth of history that continues to go unnoticed. After taking a few GWST classes - one of them being Queer Representation in Film and TV (GWST 321) - I still don’t know nearly enough about the impact of Black and Latinx queer content on American culture. How can I celebrate that Moonlight received recognition while knowing that the struggle and pain depicted is not at all fictional? I want these depictions to be realistic, but also include moments of queer POC joy and celebration. Depictions in media that appreciate instead of appropriate. How can I embrace the cultural importance of Paris is Burning while knowing that a White cis woman profitted off of Black and Brown trans lives in the process?
Despite the problematic aspects of the documentary, I still highly recommend people watch Paris Is Burning. It captures the essence of drag ball culture and the struggles many of the participants faced in a way that is easily accessible. It also shows the origin of slang still used today. If you’ve enjoyed RuPaul’s Drag Race, it is almost imperative to watch Paris Is Burning to understand the history of drag before studio executive directors became involved. Drag balls have historically been by and for trans and gay people of color, which is why some of RuPaul’s rules and statements have been criticized for being harmful. For a while, RuPaul’s show was the only mainstream representation of drag ball culture, but now there are other forms of drag ball culture entertainment that are more inclusive and nuanced (such as FX’s Pose).
Although it wouldn’t be enough to just watch Paris is Burning or Pose. I would highly recommend reading and viewing other perspectives to understand the complexities of queer POC culture in general. I’ve listed some courses, readings, and films that are recommended by us, the Diversity and Inclusion staff, for this purpose. If you have other reading or viewing recommendations, please include them in the comment section!
UMBC Courses:
GWST 100: Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies
GWST 321: Queer Representation in Film and TV
GWST 348: Black, Queer, and Feminist Film
Readings:
Is Paris Burning? From Black Looks by bell hooks
Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw
Μaking Things Perfectly Queer:What Makes Queerness Most? By Alexander Doty
Fabulous: The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric By Maddison Moore
Trap Door: Trans Cultural Production and the Politics of Visibility (Critical Anthologies in Art and Culture) By: Reina Gossett
Queering Bathrooms: Gender, Sexuality, and the Hygienic Imagination By Sheila L. Cavanagh
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton
Films/Documentaries:
Paris Is Burning (1990)
Celluloid Closet (1995) (is also a book)
A Place in the Middle (2015)
Transagenda (2015)
“Passing” (2016)
Kiki (2017)
Happy Birthday, Marsha! (2018)
Disclosure (2020)
Trainings:
SafeZone LGBTQ+ Allyship Development Training
Joint Transgender and Gender Non-Binary (TGNB) Health Statement
Counseling Center
University Health Services
Women’s Center
Campus Life’s Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers
We celebrate the monumental ruling from the Supreme Court on June 15, 2020 that upholds protections for the LGBTQ+ community against discrimination in the workplace. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, discrimination on the basis of sex is prohibited and this ruling declares that this includes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
At the same time, we are deeply troubled by new Federal guidelines that place limitations on non-discrimination protections in healthcare by removing the inclusion of transgender and gender non-binary (TGNB) individuals. We are troubled not only by the ruling, but also the fact that these decisions were made during Pride Month, on the fourth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre, and in the midst of both a global pandemic and a movement to defend and affirm Black lives.
The erasure of these healthcare rights for TGNB people can significantly impact their access to health insurance, resources, and providers, making it more likely for them to experience inequities and unfair treatment in healthcare. Moreover, these guidelines do not align with UMBC’s commitment to inclusive excellence. We feel it is essential to reaffirm our support of the trans and non-binary communities at UMBC.
We want to assure our UMBC community that, regardless of this change at the federal level, Maryland state law protects healthcare access (including insurance coverage) for transgender and gender non-binary people. Other states may not have the same protections. UMBC students who have out-of-state health insurance that might not be as inclusive can select our student health insurance to be covered in Maryland.
The Counseling Center and University Health Services are available for questions, support, and guidance around getting your healthcare needs addressed in an inclusive and affirming manner. The Women's Center and The Mosaic, Interfaith, and Pride Centers will also continue to hold steadfast in our commitment to providing support services and educational programs, and will advocate for trans and non-binary community members' well-being and belonging.
Your identities are valid. Always. You are deserving of equitable and affirming care. Always.
We see you. We believe you. You matter. Always.
We also offer the following non-exhaustive list of local resources as options for affirming care in the areas of physical and mental health, legal support, housing and food security, and community advocacy:
Center for Black Equity (LGBTQ Focus)
On Campus Resources Include:
Counseling Center: The Trans Support Group is a group for transgender, non-binary, gender nonconforming, and gender questioning students. The group is discussion based with topics based on group consensus, with flexibility to explore current issues faced by group members. Look out for recorded webinars based on the Trans Support Group as well as news regarding Trans Support Group in the Fall semester.
LGBTQ Faculty and Staff Association
LGBTQ Student Union and the Queer and Trans People of Color (QPOC) Student Org
Office of Equity and Inclusion
The Mosaic, Interfaith and Pride Centers
Women’s Center: Spectrum is a discussion group for community members who identify as trans, genderqueer, gender fluid, outside of the gender binary, and/or those who are questioning their gender identity. Spectrum will begin meeting virtually again in the Fall.
Title: I Risk My Life Each Time I Leave the House...and so Does Every Other Black Person in America.
Subtitle/Headline: A passionate analysis of the relationships between Black Americans and the police.
This post was written by Tiwa Oni ‘20, UMBC Alumnus and former Student Diversity and Inclusion Peer.
Let's start with a personal anecdote:
Yesterday, my friend asked me to help him move, so I put on my clothes: a t-shirt, a du-rag, and a pair of grey joggers (kinda dirty, a bit worn out and torn, very ugly...you get the picture). After dressing up, I thought to myself “dang I hope these aren't the pants I die in today”. The end.
Now let me explain the significance of that:
For thousands of Black Americans, deciding to go out for a walk, drive, or shopping has now become synonymous to risking one’s life, on the off chance that they will be stopped and accosted by the police. In short, every time I leave the house I am potentially picking what could be my last outfit...and looking good while doing it. Every time I tell my friends and family I am leaving the house I may be telling them my last words. Isn’t it heartbreaking to do this kind of mental gymnastics everytime and assess the risk/benefit ratio (the risk being my life) for something as simple as getting groceries? Or wearing a hoodie? Or laughing too loud? Bryan Stevenson (2019) states “New language has emerged for the noncrimes that have replaced the Black Codes: driving while black, sleeping while black, sitting in a coffee shop while black… All reflect incidents in which African-Americans were mistreated, assaulted or arrested for conduct that would be ignored if they were white”. In recent weeks “drive safely” has taken on a completely new meaning; from drive competently and avoid bad drivers to “I hope the police do not stop you for any reason today” or “I hope the police officer that encounters you isn't racist or can be merciful”. We live in an age where a violent arrest by the police is a cause for Black people to be grateful, because the alternative is us losing our lives. Comments like “at least you got out alive” have become all too common and desensitize us to the fact that being physically harassed by the police are not, and should not be, normalized.
- Okay, let’s pause. -
Do you wanna hear a joke? It's 2 a.m. and a toddler calls their mum in the room screaming “there’s a monster under my bed!”. The mum goes “oh no baby, I checked and there’s no monster...but if you want I can call the police to check for you.” and reaches for her phone to make a fake call. The kid’s face goes blank and they say “nevermind mum, I’ll take my chances with the monster.” Not funny? I’m glad you think so too.
Let me explain why:
As a society, which is to say as a group of people inhabiting the same space with similar values (e.g. freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and right to own property), and as citizens of our respective states, we all pay a significant amount in taxes that, supposedly, go toward infrastructure that is meant to enrich our lives and protect society’s values. Infrastructure like roads, electric lines, and water pipes are generally enjoyed by all. Yet, the policing of our societies is not distributed equally at all. Now, I realise that the previous statement is polarising and may seem like a hyperbolized reality, but let me throw a few facts your way real quick. In this state, Maryland, “Black people comprised 29% of the Maryland population [in 2019]” but were “69% of people killed [by] police” and were “killed at five times the rates of White people” (Joycelyn Lee & Michael Robinson, 2019). According to Mapping Police Violence (2018), a research collaborative working to systematically document incidents of police killings in the United States, “Black people were more likely to be killed by police, more likely to be unarmed, and less likely to be threatening someone when killed” than all other unarmed persons killed by police; yet, police officers are rarely prosecuted for these deaths.
Now, given these facts, it is jarring how unfair the same people who invest their money into our society’s pockets to receive the same privileges are not only being refused them, but are also being attacked by them regularly. When young Black kids yell out “Fuck 12” and I hear people say “Oh you don't mean it” I cringe. Of course they do! Every week Black America has to watch their screen turn into a casket as Black people, regardless of their socioeconomic class, gender, or political stance, are being murdered by the people they pay and expect to protect them. Every evening at 7pm the news turns into a funeral procession, people see strangers that look like them humiliated and killed on camera for the world to see, knowing fully well they could be next. For Black America, the fear and hatred of police “is situated in a long history of racial violence perpetrated and permitted by law enforcement”. Black America’s experience with this long history “may heighten a sense of powerlessness to protect themselves from the threat of police violence and shape their coping responses to the traumatic stressors of witnessing or experiencing police violence and killings” (Joycelyn Lee & Michael Robinson, 2019).
So yes, many Black people would rather deal with the uncertainties of life without involving the police in their affairs, in fact by avoiding the police all together Black people are increasing their life expectancies (Santhanam, 2019).
I’ll be honest: I don’t know exactly why I wrote this blog post. I was scared and angry when I began writing this, now I am angry and scared while finishing this. There is no catharsis at the end of this blog post. No happy ending or ray of hope or prophecy of a greater future (yet), just reality summarised in a few paragraphs.
I will say this: For all my fellow Black people out there, you do not need to explain your fear or anger at the system. You do not need to validate your need for protest or your desire to want to change the system. Your experience is valid. Your experience is real. You are precious and you definitely matter!! If you are looking for words or facts to back up your debates, then feel free to refer to this piece, but lived experience can be a much better reference point.
And to the non-Black POC and White people reading this, please educate yourselves. Black people have been forced to learn through gruesome and traumatizing first-hand experiences...the least you could do is click on the links and learn. I promise you that what you find will shock you, it might even appall you enough to shed a tear, but that just shows that you are human and empathetic to the cause, and you can help make the country a better place. The first step to making this country livable for all people is to always be in a learning mindset, which is to say you are never “woke” enough on a topic and there is no such thing as the perfect ally. I implore you all to continuously check yourselves, and research ideas and philosophies that challenge your reality (after all information is always an informed google away!).
]]>LGBTQ+ PRIDE is the celebration of the lives, self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and many others (such as asexual, nonbinary, pansexual and Two Spirit) people as a social group. PRIDE, as opposed to shame and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBTQ+ rights movements.
PRIDE month is currently celebrated each year during the month of June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. Sadly, due to COVID19 many PRIDE events and festivities have been cancelled this year.
But fret not, The PRIDE Center and The Women’s Center invite you to celebrate LGBTQ+ PRIDE with us on Friday, June 26th at 8PM with our very own virtual PRIDE celebration.
Please join us for a one-hour virtual PRIDE party! All members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies are welcome. Feel free to come with your very best PRIDE outfits and swag to get your dancing, joy and resistance on!
In this critical moment, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff affirms our solidarity with the Black community at UMBC and beyond. Your story matters. Your voice matters. Your life matters.
We mourn the Black Americans who have lost their lives to white supremacy and police brutality: George Floyd, David McAtee, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others whose names we know and whose names we don't.
Our society and its institutions continue to oppress people on the basis of their race, religion, class, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ability, and other aspects of their identities. Collectively, we have failed to embrace every person as fully human, morally equal, and entitled to full participation.
The Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff works with other members of the UMBC community to leverage all of our talents so we can build just, inclusive communities and a society in which everyone can thrive. Today we renew our commitment to challenging structural racism and white supremacy, and to advancing social justice in every facet of our work. This includes evaluating all of our programs to ensure that in addition to supporting students and colleagues in pursuing change through voting, advocacy, and strategic work in institutional settings, we are supporting them in directly challenging oppressive systems.
We also affirm our personal support for these strong statements about the moral imperatives of this moment in our national life by UMBC and University System of Maryland (USM) leaders:
Statement by UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous: This Time in America
Statement by USM Leadership on Structural Racism and the Killing of George Floyd
from the Dresher Center for the Humanities
from the Women’s Center
from the Counseling Center
By the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 members of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life staff:
David Hoffman
Romy Hübler
Ravi Bhatt
Dominique Henriques Melo
Tirzah Khan
Charis Lawson
Brandon Liu
Tess McRae
Pat Michael