#cornell asb

[cornellasb-chicago-blog]

On Tuesday afternoon, we took a trip to the National Immigrant Justice Center, NIJC, to discuss what type of research we would help them with, but before we received our assignment we got some background information on the group. The NIJC works with immigrants who are seeking asylum in the US from their country because of either being attacked because of their sexuality, being stranded because of their sexuality, or fear of the above. The NIJC offers advice and pro bono work to LGBT individuals and couples who are trying to stay in the US to escape their home country where they could be harmed either by the government or by the people who the government turn a blind eye to.

The NIJC asked us to update their information about countries in which they work. In order to fully defend a person in court, the NIJC needs to show the judge that if the person was to return to their home country, they would face physical violence. In order to do so, they need to make sure that their information about the countries are up-to-date and accurate and so our job is to find articles from a few countries involving LGBT peoples and laws that either show support or objection towards the LGBT community. We're all super excited to start doing research and I think it will be pretty amazing to help out with such an amazing program.

- Tevin

[cornellasb-chicago-blog]

On Monday night as part of our evening ASB reflection our group started discussing the distinction of sex, gender, and sexuality and the challenges of identity claims. While conceptually distinct, in contemporary American society sex and gender are generally assumed to be and are treated as indistinguishable. While we might conceptually distinguish sex as a term used to indicate physical differences from gender as reflective of masculine/feminine self-identification, in mainstream interactions it is typically assumed that male bodied individuals are men and female-bodied individuals are women. It is also assumed that men are/should be masculine and females are/should be feminine. This creates challenges for trangendered individuals whose birth assigned sex, gender presentations, and identities are not congruent, as well as cisgendered individuals whose are not normatively masculine or feminine. Our mainstream notion of dichotomous stability also affect those who do not fit our dichotomous models of sexuality. Contemporary gendered models of sexuality presume that one's sexual orientation is based on the sex/gender object choice. Further this also is presumed to be static and dichotomous—which means we are expected to have consistent and congruent fantasies, attractions, romantic affiliations, experiences. This limits our ability to be fluid in gender or sexuality. Sexual experiences and relationships which do not fit our presumed trajectory or which are not rooted in gender are incomprehensible and de-legitimized. Based on the various people we've talked to with the LGBT organizations we are meeting with, we've come to realize that not everyone has the same perspectives and expereinces. In order to understand, communicate, and accept the diversity of gendered and sexual experience we need to clarify our terms, listen to each other, and be open to new possibilities.  

-Erin

[cornellasb-chicago-blog]

The Center On Halsted

For our first day of service we took a trip to go visit the Center On Halsted, and it was absolutely amazing! Our guide, Rarrie, was very helpful and informative and gave us a tour of the entire building. There are so many wonderful services they provide to the LGBTQ community: youth services, childcare, senior services, giving out meals, health services particularly hiv/aids testing, mental health services and a variety of classes like yoga or cooking as well! The building itself was quite impressive in size and just decor and usefulness of each space. Just when you think they couldn’t possibly fit anything else in this building we went up to the third floor and saw that they have a whole gym too! I was so amazed by all the great work they do for the LGBTQ community and it was really inspiring to hear their story of how they came to be and how greatly they are supported by the community, donors, and especially all their wonderful volunteers. I really wish we could have volunteered with them but unfortunately you have to be 22. Still I felt like we learned a lot and it was great to learn more about them!

--Emily

[cornellasb-chicago-blog]

Created by The Legacy Project, a nonprofit organization operating in Chicago, The Legacy Walk  is the world's only outdoor museum walk created to educated the youth as well as celebrate LGBTQ History. It currently features over a dozen rainbow pylons with plaques commemorating members of the LGBTQ community who have made a significant impact in a wide variety of fields: ranging from art and literature to science and social justice.

Yesterday, we had the privilege of taking the guided tour from co-founder and Executive Director of the Legacy Project, along this half mile of North Halsted. It was eye opening to see how many people I've learned about, even in a college setting, without ever being told they're part of the LGBTQ community (such as Jane Adams). While this exhibit does raise the question of how do we talk about history without making identities static, it's still very important that representation of the LGBTQ community is reinstated into our textbook histories. 

-- Janet