Queer Perspectives on Marriage

Queer Perspectives on Marriage

Monday, March 7, 2011
Multi-Cultural Center

Queer theorists Lisa Duggan, Macarena Gomez-Barris, J. Jack Halberstam, and Dean Spade presented queer critiques of same-sex marriage and the fight for “marriage equality.” Instead of attempting to merely transform existing, oppressive institutions, panelists insisted on the necessity of moving away from a “politics of respectability” and toward broader queer social and economic justice movements. They considered queer public art in Mexico and Argentina, grassroots queer organizations, queer of color activists, and sexually dissenting populations alongside militarization, mainstream lesbian and gay movements and the marketplace, presenting a queer and trans abolitionist perspective on marriage.

In addition to co-sponsoring the Queer Perspectives on Marriage panel, the New Sexualities RFG organized an event through which several graduate students who have been active with New Sexualities had the opportunity to engage with Duggan, Gomez-Barris, Halberstam and Spade in a more intimate manner. Graduate students presented and received feedback on our projects.