Semi-Annual Newsletter Issue #91/92 Notes About This Issue After a long delay, the semi-annual newsletter of the Sociologists' Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus (SLGBTC) is finally here! Thank you for your patience. As you will note in the following pages, this particular newsletter is rather brief. This is, in part, related to the delay of this issue. Due to lack of submissions, as well as editorial support, mailing was significantly postponed. Nevertheless, the following pages are packed with useful information regarding the SLGBTC business meeting, calls for papers and submissions, conference announcements, and pertinent internet resources. As readers will note in the SLGBTC business meeting minutes, current work is being done to build and maintain a website for the caucus. Such a website will help to prevent future delays in receiving future newsletters. The next edition of the newsletter will be available soon on-line. However, this will only happen with your help. As long-time members of the caucus are aware, this organization is an excellent forum for current research, teaching methods and materials, and professional issues relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. In addition, the caucus has been instrumental in monitoring anti-gay ideologies in the distribution of sociological knowledge. The newsletter of the SLGBTC serves to disseminate important information to caucus members. All members are encouraged to be involved with this by submitting essays, book reviews, updates on their current research projects, announcements of upcoming conferences, and the like. The deadline for submissions the next issue is June 1, 1999. We look forward to seeing your contributions! Sociologists' Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, & Transgender Caucus 1998 Business Meeting, San Francisco, California Meeting Minutes 1. Members discussed updating the membership mailing list. One suggestion for updating the mailing list was to do global e-mail messages. Some members recommended putting the mailing list on-line. If this is done, however, it will be important to ask permission of people on the list, deleting any members who do not want to be on such an electronic mailing list. 2. Caucus members engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the newsletter. While there were some contrary views, most everyone felt that it was most practical to build a website for the caucus and put the bi-annual newsletter there. Caucus members also recommended paying person for building and maintaining the website. John Hollister at SUNY-Binghamton expressed an interesting in volunteering to take this paid project on. Look for future newsletters at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/slgc/SLGC.html 3. Caucus members discussed organizing a panel on gay marriage for the ASA 1999 Annual Meetings in Chicago. Christopher Carrington agreed to organize this panel. Minutes submitted by Paul Galatowitch About SLGBTC The Sociologists' Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Caucus is organized to: _ Encourage unprejudiced sociological research on lesbians and gay men and their social institutions, _ Provide a forum for current research, teaching methods and materials, and professional issues relevant to homosexuality, _ Monitor anti-gay ideologies in the distribution of sociological knowledge, and investigate practices oppressive to lesbians and gay men, _ Oppose discrimination against gay and lesbian sociologists in employment, promotion, tenure, and research situations, _ Maintain a social support network among its members. For more information, contact: SLGBTC P.O. Box 2133 Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56302-2133 Subscriptions: $7.50 student, $20 regular ...or visit SLGBTC's web page: http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/slgc/SLGC.html SLGBTC Officers: Treasurer/Secretary: Tracy E. Ore President: Christopher Carrington Program Chairs: Kevin Henson and Arthur Redman Newsletter Submissions: Tracy E. Ore, Editor Department of Human Relations & Multicultural Ed. Saint Cloud State University 720 Fourth Avenue South B118 Education Building Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56301 Tore@stcloudstate.edu 320.654.5570 Deadline for Spring/Summer Issue: June 1, 1999 Announcements/Call For Papers CURRICULUM, CULTURES, AND [HOMO]SEXUALITIES General Information Proposals for papers relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues are sought for 1999 JCT Conference to be held at the Bergamo Conference Center, near Dayton, Ohio. The purpose of the Conference is to create a location for scholarly discourse related to the fields of curriculum and cultural studies. Specifically, the conference promotes discussions that challenge disciplinary, genre, and textual boundaries. This Conference brings together more than two hundred scholars and educators to discuss recent, evolving, and emerging ideas relating to the fields of curriculum and cultural studies. We encourage diverse and innovative perspectives, voices, formats, and performances which might enlarge our understanding, challenge our assumptions, and prompt our thinking. The 1999 Conference also provides an opportunity for queer scholars and activists involved in K-post-secondary education to interact in an informal, retreat-like setting to discuss political and educational strategies. Special Strand One of two featured strands for the October 27-30 Conference is "Curriculum, Cultures, and [Homo]Sexualities." This theme builds upon a triumvirate foundation of cultural studies, curriculum studies, and queer theory/gay studies. Papers are sought that center on curriculum and educational issues relevant to [homo]sexualities bringing together intellectual discourse and analysis generally associated with cultural studies. Questions presenters might choose to consider are: How are [homo]sexual identities shaped in a modern age and how might they be re-envisioned within a postmodern world? What are the constructive and transgressive relationships among race, culture, [homo]sexualities within curriculum? In what ways is knowledge on the homosexual subject produced, interpreted, and transformed in popular culture and education? How is the politics of sexualized voice-- student, teacher, parent, administrator, citizen- honored within a democratic school? What are the implications for cyber-technology in reconstructing the [homo]sexualized curriculum and deconstructing enfleshed identities? In what ways might educators de[in]scribe heteronormativity? Is there a postmodern sexuality? What theoretical orientations are helpful in linking questions of sexuality to civil rights, civic life, and modern democracies? Papers accepted for this conference will be considered for inclusion in a co-edited book by William F. Pinar and James T. Sears produced by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. For more information about this Book Series, see: http://www.jtsears.com/series.htm Submitting a Proposal All proposals undergo a formal review process. In order to be considered, please submit five copies of a one-page proposal along with five cover sheets that includes: Presentation Title, 50 word abstract, Presenter(s) contact information (including FAX and/or e-mail), and any audio-visual equipment needed. Proposals must be received by 1 June 1999 and send to: Dr. Shirley Steinberg, JCT Conference Committee 130 Harvey Hall, Adelphi University Garden City, NY 11530. Please include a $5 processing fee (made payable to Corporation for Curriculum Research) to cover costs of replies and conference mail-outs. QGRAD: A GRADUATE STUDENT CONFERENCE ON SEXUALITY AND GENDER UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Studies Program A public conference devoted to research and other work in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies, on queer topics, sexuality and gender by graduate students in all fields. An opportunity for graduate students to meet and exchange ideas on their research and to discuss possibilities for future collaboration throughout the region. Friday, October 22, 1999 8 am-5 pm, 306 Royce Hall. Call for Papers Graduate students are invited to present their research or other work (visual arts, performance, etc.) on LGBT or queer topics, on sexuality and gender. All interested students, particularly those from campuses throughout southern California, are encouraged to participate. Please submit an abstract and a CV (each two pages maximum) to the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Program. Deadline for submission of abstracts is May 21, 1999. UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Program 251A Kinsey Hall Box 951384 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1384 Email submissions: lgbs@humnet.ucla.edu Cosponsored by the UCLA Center for the Study of Women and the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Resource Center For further information, please contact the LGBTS office at 206-0516 or lgbs@humnet.ucla.edu. OVERCOMING BOUNDARIES: ETHNICITY, GENDER AND SEXUALITY Thamyris' Special 2000 Issue Thamyris wants to devote its spring 2000-issue to an exploration and comparison of ethnic, gendered and sexual cultures, communities, identities, knowledges and arts. Although in many publications lip service is paid to the co-construction of the three themes, the similarities and differences between same-sexual, ethnic and gendered experiences in culture, society and academia are seldomly systematically investigated or discussed. On the threshhold of the 21st century, the insight that all of our lives are multidimensional, informed by these three axes of social differentiation, gives particular urgency to the project of thinking these dimensions simultaneously and comparatively. Thamyris focuses on ethnicity, gender and sexuality to give visibility to the variety of human identities, interests and desires, and to speak about power, oppression and resistance. In the vision of the editors each of the three concepts covers both the marked and the unmarked categories within its purview. Thus, ethnicity refers not only to non-white positionalities in a Caucasian context, but expressly concerns itself with various constructions of whiteness. Likewise, gender is about the construction of both women and men, while sexuality addresses homo- and heterosexualities. We want to highlight and problematize the ways in which ethnic, gendered and sexual categories can be used to marginalize people, but can also be seen as empowering categories on which communities and coalitions are built. The articles we are looking for focus on at least the comparison of two of the mentioned aspects, or on groups and subjects that combine several threads. The perspective may be theoretical, epistemological, political, historical, sociological, literary. The topics of articles may be concrete social or educational movements or projects, specific case-studies (e.g. concerning identity or community formation where boundaries are tested and perhaps overcome), a novel that discusses limits and crossings, epistemological and conceptual issues, political mobilization, and also antagonisms between groups. It has, for instance, been observed that those marginalized in one way will often marginalize those marked in other ways. Many cultures indulge in the adoration of mothers, but also in the vilification of "sluts" or other independent women. And while same-sex contacts may be available to men in some of these cultures, little respect is given to those men who take on gay identities. White gay men in various Western European countries target Moroccan youth for their alleged anti-homosexual aggression. Dominant versions of feminism have been confronted with great difficulties in overcoming ethnic and heterosexual boundaries. How does the hegemonic reinsert itself in what is oppositional? How do we proceed in a world that produces ever more social, sexual, gendered and ethnic differentiations? What is the influence of class on various configurations? How will we be able to create societies that offer easier access to education, economic resources, cultural products, political participation, various positions for everybody? Deadline for submission: December 21, 1999 Scheduled date of publication: June 2000 Articles, requests, proposals, or abstracts should be sent to the issue editors: c/o Gert Hekma, Dept. of Sociology Amsterdam University Oude Hoogstraat 24, 1012 CE Amsterdam, The Netherlands emails: hekma@pscw.uva.nl and ihoving@hovi.demon.nl An Instruction to Contributors and information about the journal are available on request:: The editors of Thamyris c/o Nanny de Vries Najade Press P.O. Box 75933, 1070 AX Amsterdam, The Netherlands Fax: +31-20-679 8874 e-mail: thamyris@wxs.nl or najade@wxs.nl SUMMER INSTITUTE ON SEXUALITY, CULTURE AND SOCIETY: International Sexuality Study Program in Amsterdam, The Netherlands The Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society is an important educational and research institute on sexuality studies, which is annually held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Institute, organized by the University of Amsterdam, was begun in 1995, and has enjoyed three years of unparalleled success. The Institute is an academic summer program open to students from around The world. This year's Amsterdam Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society promises to be the best learning experience of all. We are encouraging advanced students, primarily Ph.D. and MA students in the socio-cultural sciences with a serious interest in sexuality study, to apply for participation in the Fourth Annual Institute, July 12 - August 6, 1999. The Summer Institute in 1998 featured 31 students of American, European And Third World background, all of whom took courses in a variety of areas dealing with the anthropology of sexual cultures, the social history of sexuality, the history of erotic art, the social theory of sexuality, and a number of additional areas germane to human sexuality. Size of seminars is limited to small discussion groups of 15 or less, to enable close and detailed discussion with visiting professor and with fellow students. The 1999 class is expected to be in the range of approximately 35 students; a small but dynamic size for intellectual and social activities. The classes of the Institute are taught in the intensive manner of small seminars, with group discussions, lecturers and guest lecturers by prominent people in the field. Significant lectures will be offered by sociologist John Gagnon, historian Jeffrey weeks, and anthropologists Carole Vance, Michael Tan, and others. This year's intensive research seminar will be co-taught by Gilbert Herdt and Mieke Aerts (a Dutch woman historian who specializes in gender) and will survey a range of theoretical and methodological approaches to sexuality study in the socio-cultural sciences. Seminar discussion will focus on the integration of cultural and historical theory in understanding human sexuality through 'sexual stories', 'sexual culture', and 'historical representations'. Please have students apply directly to the Universiteit van Amsterdam, at the below address, or visit the Institute's web-site at:: http://www.pscw.uva.nl/InternationalSchool/ SummerInstitute Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture & Society International School for the Humanities and Social Sciences Universiteit van Amsterdam Herengracht 514 1017 CC Amsterdam, The Netherlands phone: +31 20 525.3776 fax: +31 20 525.3778 E-mail: summerinstitute@ishss.uva.nl INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON INNOVATIVE TECHNIQUES FOR TEACHING THE SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER Call for Submissions Materials are currently being sought for this more focused edition of Kain and Neas's, Innovative Techniques for Teaching Sociological Concepts (1993). How do you use gender in the classes you teach? We are looking for creative ways of teaching gender to high school and college students of sociology; this set of materials will include a range of approaches from in-class to out-of-class assignments geared toward individuals, groups, or large classes. We will also include essays of varying lengths on practicing feminist pedagogy. Submissions are welcome on an IBM compatible diskette (MS Word) or as an e-mail attachment. Please send materials by June 15th, 1999 to: Julie Childers Department of Sociology McGuinn Hall 426 Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 e-mail julie.childers@bc.edu. Resources Note: The following web addresses were accurate and active as of 4-16-99. If you have any difficulties with any of these please contact the editor of this newsletter at tore@stcloudstate.edu. The Queer Studies List:: http://www.uky.edu/StudentOrgs/QueerInfo/qstudy.htm Sexual Orientation Resource Database http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/EdRes/Topic/Diversity/Specific/Sexual_Orientation / ASA Sociology of Sexualities Section: http://www.asanet.org/Sections/sexualit.htm The Society for Scientific Study of Sexuality: http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/ssss/ Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States: http://www.siecus.org/ E-Directory of Lesbigay Scholars: http://newark.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/lbg_edir.html Women's Studies Database: http://www.inform.umd.edu:8080/EdRes/Topic/WomensStudies/ Progressive Sociologists Network: http://csf.colorado.edu/psn/ Yahoo's Sociology Page: http://www.yahoo.com/Social_Science/Sociology/ Research Resources for the Social Sciences: http://www.socsciresearch.com/ Socioweb: http://www.socioweb.com/~markbl/socioweb/ The Society for the Study of Social Problems: http://itc.utk.edu/sssp/default.html The Chronicle of Higher Education: http://chronicle.merit.edu/ The Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies: http://web.gsuc.cuny.edu/clags/ National Women's Studies Association: http://www.nwsa.org/ Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network: http://www.glstn.org/ 1998-1999 Semi-Annual SLGBTC Newsletter page 1