Exploring Queer Citizenship and Critical Perspectives on Naturalization
Delve into the complexities of queer citizenship through a critical lens, discussing the evolving definitions of citizenship, the impact of naturalization on different racial groups, and examples of denaturalization based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The concept of the public sphere is also explored in relation to queer politics and activism.
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CHAPTER 11: QUEERING CITIZENSHIP Politics, Power, and Justice Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
What does it mean to be a queer citizen? Queer Nation (1990): started by members of ACT UP Previous labels of queer political activists (imposed by outsiders): Comintern (popular in McCCarthyism, in1950s, generally, international communists) Homintern (used as early as 1930s to add queer layer to otherness) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Citizen: definitions? Bestowed by birthplace: Obama and birther movement OED: Citizenship includes the rights to live and work in a particular national state and to participate in its politics while being subject to taxation Fordham: adds to OED, also someone who holds membership in a certain geographic region and actively participates in the society of their specific region Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Devon W. Carbado: Citizenship vs. Naturalization Critical race theory Naturalization involves implicit and explicit assumptions about belonging, membership, and rights Non-citizen white people may be granted greater degree of naturalization than black citizens, through policing, surveillance, and freedom of movement Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
How to apply to queer people? Denaturalization based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity? Examples: Kim Davis refusal to grant wedding licenses to same-sex couples Kentucky) Masterpiece Bakery: Colorado baker who refused to make wedding cake for same-sex couple Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
The Public Sphere Term coined by German philosopher, Jurgen Habermas Virtual or imaginary community which does not necessarily exist in any identifiable space (Soules) While originating in concepts of public authority, it is through talk produced within the sphere that policies, laws, and values become articulated and realized. Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Eric O. Clarke: Heterosexism and the Public Sphere Heterosexism has had the power for defining proper civic personhood. Traces activism for queer rights to 19th century movements, centered in German, originated by Magnus Hirschfeld Paragraph 175: criminalization of homosexual acts (only formally repealed in 1994) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Clarke, continued Visibility politics In 21st century, biggest problem: marginalization and devaluing of queer identities, often within LGBT communities (such as the devaluing of T identities) Ellen DeGeneres: the specter of the scary homosexual Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Homonormativity Upholds and sustains the assumptions and institutions of heteronormativity Happens when queer people do not question or challenge the norms in various spheres (education, commerce, etc.) Comes from fear, exhaustion, desire for acceptance Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Homonormativity and Homonationalism Lisa Duggan: Homonormativity: a politics that upholds and sustains [heteronormative assumptions]. Implicit agreement to act as docile bodies (Foucault s phrase) Also, promising the possibility of a demobilizied gay constituency and a privatized, depoliticized gay culture anchored in domesticity and consumption (Duggan) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Homonationalism: Global Extensions Jasbir Puar, Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times (2007) Grounds theory in the commemoration in Iran on July 19, 2006, of the International Day of Action Against Homophobic Persecution--first anniversary of hanging of two young Iranian men for homosexual acts. Western involvement to justify military invasion of Iran Imposition of Western concepts of queerness on darkened bodies Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Pinkwashing Makes false equivalence: being positive on one issue obviates negative attitudes on other dimensions/identities Rewards queer people into citizenship by rewarding them for support of military aggression and violence Benevolence toward sexual others (queers) involves tacit or explicit endorsement of white/Western supremacy Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Queer Politics in the United States Amy Stone, Gay Rights at the Ballot Box (2012): Socialmovements: longer fight for LGBT rights Ballot measures: more limited goals/purposes Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Social Movements and Habitus Pierre Bourdieu: Habit, a way of performing everyday social life Stone: campaign politics is rarely queer politics (may be too ambitious an attempt to change habitus) Stone: local levels, individual issues (such as Briggs initiative) tend to be more successful; weakest on transgender issues Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
LGBT Politicians and Electoral Politics Gerry Studds (1983) and Barney Frank (1987): first members of national Congress to openly identify as gay (did not do so until after election); both represented Massachussetts Other pioneers: Elaine Noble Barbara Jordan (never came out) Tammy Baldwin Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Criminalizing Queerness: Sodomy Laws Sodomy laws: have existed for centuries in many countries In US, have been handled primarily at state level Questions of constitutionality 1996: Bowers v. Hardwick; upheld by Supreme Court (5-4) 2003: Lawrence v. Texas; dismantled sodomy laws at federal level Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Same-Sex Marriage/Marriage Equality Marriage-like arrangements for centuries 1970: Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, Minneapolis; initially granted license, but was rescinded 1983: Evan Wolfson, wrote paper for law class on issue; eventually became national activist for same-sex marriage
Conservative Arguments for Same-Sex Marriage Andrew Sullivan and Jonathan Rauch: major figures AIDS epidemic: absence of marriage equality often robbed partners of rights of association and decision-making Sullivan: argued for domestic partnerships or civil commitments rather than marriage per se Rauch: same-sex marriage could help tame gay men and encourage them to be more faithful (critics say this as homonormativity)
Critiques of Same-Sex Marriage Against Equality: collective dedicated to resistance of same- sex marriage, military enrollment, prison systems Believed that such resistance would work for fairness and justice for multiple oppressed groups Queers for Economic Justice, Joseph DeFillipis: Beyond Same-Sex Marriage : securing governmental and private institutional recognition of diverse kind of partnerships, households, kinship relationships and families.
Historical Landmarks in Marriage Equality 1991: Hawaii: Wolfson and Lambda Legal pled case for gay couple wishing to marry 1996: Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), signed by Bill Clinton: allowed individual states t legalize marriage, invalidated federal rights for same-sex partners; led to Proposition 8 in California Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Challenges to DOMA United States v. Windsor (2013): Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer: married in Canada in 2007; Spyer died in 2009 Windsor sought to receive survivor benefits; would have been tax at higher rate Initially, Windsor won; ruling overturned at appeal Ultimately, won at Supreme Court, 5-4 decision Kennedy, writing for majority, cited dignity as a right of all citizens Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Obergefell v. Hodges 2015: Case that led to national recognition of same-sex marriage James Obergefell and John Arthur: resided in Ohio (did not recognize SSM), married in Maryland (which did) Arthur dying of ALS; Obergefell petition to be listed as surviving spouse; Arthur died in 2013 Ended up at Supreme Court, Kennedy once again writing for majority, invoked dignity again While some states refuse to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples, marriages performed in other states must be acknowledged legally Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Queeringthe Military Queer soldiers in US military since beginning: Baron Friedrich von Steuben 1940s: formalized policy of not inducting men who admitted to homosexual feelings and activities Many queer people nonetheless served in closeted fashion 1950s: coincident with McCarthy communist witch hunts, heightened surveillance of queer people in military, with discharges on this basis Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Spotlight on Leonard Matlovich and Margarethe Cammermeyer Sgt. Leonard Matlovich: Joined Air Force at 19 and served in Vietnam for three terms of duty Came out to self around age 30; following year made contact with gay rights activist Frank Kameney Became test case; cover of Time magazine Did not win case, but was given honorable discharge Died of AIDS in his mid-40s Epitaph: When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for killing one" Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer: Serving in Silence Nurse, originally married to a man 1988: met women would become her wife; came out to military authorities during security clearance 1992: honorably discharged Brought law suit, judge found ban unconstitutional Returned to service under Don t Ask Don t Tell Retired a few years later; wrote memoir; made into TV film Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Dont Ask Dont Tell Came into existence under Bill Clinton Devised by Charles Moskos, sociologist of the military Stated that openly active homosexuals were deleterious to military, conceded that closeted ones could serve honorably Therefore, to remain eligible, military personnel should not disclose queer sexual identity, nor should other personnel ask them to. Flaw: if third party revealed a soldier s sexuality Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Chelsea Manning and Transpeople in Military Manning, originally assigned male and inducted into military as man; often read as queer and called stigmatizing names Served in intelligence, charged with Espionage Act for sending leaked emails and documents to Wikileaks Had experimented with dressing as women while in Iraq; while in custody transitioned to female gender Obama commuted her sentence in late 2016 2017: two cadets graduating from Air Force Academy and West Point, both of whom identified as transgender, not allowed to be commissioned as officers) Donald J. Trump has announced directive to block presence of transgender people in military Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Hate Crimes and Hate Speech: Special Circumstances and Continuing Debates FBI definition: criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender s biase against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity Highest proportion based on race, especially against African- Americans and Hispanics (FBI terminology) Sexual orientation was next; gender identity fewer (numbers may be skewed by either identification or comparatively smaller population) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
The Matthew Shepard Case 1998: Laramie, WY Shepard, college student, killed by two men, left to die on fence Defense unsuccessfully used gay panic defense At time, Wyoming hate crimes law did not include sexual orientation Killers sentenced to life imprisonment Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Federal Hate Crime Legislation 2009: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act Approved by both houses and signed by Barack Obama Arguments in favor: Longer recovery times and increased for depression and PTSD for survivors Increased stigma may result Arguments against: special rights Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Trans (and Intersex) Politics: An Emerging Territory Taylor and Haider-Markel, Transgender Rights and Politics LGB rights tend to focus on morality politics T rights tend to emerge from reinvention pressure T rights increasingly focusing on deconstructing gender binaries Lewis: passing transgender people tend to fare better in public than non-passing ones Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Political Issues for Transgender People Identity documentation: such items as birth certificates, social security cards, and other cards of identity Bathroom spaces: fear of the scary trans woman (e.g. an individual who has not bottom surgery and may still have penis) Especially painful and challenging for young people One solution: option of gender neutral bathrooms 2016: North Carolina passed law requiring people to use bathroom labeled for the sex/gender assigned at birth Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Global and Transnational Issues in Queer Politics The European Union and Queer Rights: EU affirms queer antidiscrimination laws and practices Required to belong to EU 28 EU nations: 15 allow same-sex marriage Of remaining, all but 6 recognize some form of same-sex civil union or partnership Northern Ireland, countries from formerly Soviet-occupied countries, and one where religious prohibitions determine laws are the only outliers Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
EU and the Politics of Visibility Philip Ayouh, political scientist: Diffusion theory Identifies first movers allows new adapters to join Not necessarily a product of modernization Rather, norm visibility Religious nationalism greatest obstacle
Russia and the Russian Federation Russia: homosexuality itself decriminalized Gay censorship law: criminalizes publication and distribution of pro-gay materials: 2017 case brought before European Court. Found in favor of the men, 6-1 Gay men sent to concentration camps in Chechen Republic Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
ISIS, the Middle East, and Conditions for Queer People Israel and Lebanon: most progressive on queer issues; Lebanon most religious diverse in Middle East Joseph Massad, Desiring Arabs: Western views of queerness in Arab countries carry considerable degree of Orientalism (term coined by Edward Said) the Gay International : project by Westerners to turn LGBT/queer identity into a universalized set of characteristics Claims that violence and imprisonment based more on claims for public identity than on private behaviors (this claim has been contested by scholars and activists) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Saleem Hadad: Critic of Massad Novelist, Guapa (2016) Shows ways men of Arab descent engage in sexual activities and relational interactions with other Arab men While conceding some of Massad s Gay Internationalist critique, also sees Massad s rejection of queer politics limiting and monolithic Who owns Arab bodies?
Iran and Queer Lives One of the harshest stated penalties for homosexual activity Views trans identity as a medical illness Pays for surgeries to correct the illness Sara Farizan, If You Could Be Mine (2013), Iranian-American writer, Young Adult Novel Narrator teen-age woman involved in same-sex relationship with best friend Explores the queer underground of Tehran Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
2005: Mahmoud Asgari and Ayad Marhoni Aged 16 and 18 respectively Hanged in town square of Khorosan, province in northeast Iran Convicted of raping 13 year-old boy Issue of whether the sex was consensual; had it been considered consensual, the ages of Asgari and Marhoni would have been considered in sentencing Questions of whether labeling them as gay is accurate or not Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
ISISs influence on violence against queer people Came to light in wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting Tim Teeman, journalist, the secret, hypocritical gay world of Isis Execution of 15 year old Syrian boy who was discovered to be having sexual relationship with top commander of ISIS. Commander flogged but then sent to front in Iraq to fight for ISIS Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Africa: A Continent Not a Country South Africa: despite history of apartheid, has most progressive policies on LGBT/queer issues 1988: decriminalized male homosexuality; never had laws about female homosexuality Permits same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples, and inclusion in the military Still instances of corrective rape (lesbians being forced to have sex with men for therapeutic purposes) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Uganda: The Other Extreme 2009: Bill introduced to make homosexuality activity grounds for death penalty; while not passed, received large amount of support Ironically, no laws against gay propaganda Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Explanations for African Antigay Attitudes History of colonialism: some Africans view western colonialists as having introduced homosexuality to their cultures Claim that homosexuality was not indigenous to African nations Different ways of understanding same-sex relations (i.e. not fixed identity) Role of Christian missionaries in influencing attitudes and policies Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Spotlight on The Rainbow Project in Namibia Located in southeast Africa No anti-discrimination laws (other than decriminalizing sex between women) John Walters, country s Ombudsman, 2016: If people of the same sex would like to get married, it is their choice, whether the country, the community, churches and government acknowledge that Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
The Rainbow Project Robert Lorway, Canadian anthropologist, studied The Rainbow Project: Organization committed to education, service, and activism Challenges: distances between communities, lack of resources, and negative views towards outsiders intervening in local matters Local conditions include: conflation of gender nonconformity with presumption of sex work Hate speeches delivered by ruling government during Lorway s research; corrective rape not punished, and rounding up of young men wearing earrings HIV prevalence among the highest in the world Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
Other Continents, Other Countries: The Rest Other places you may wish to explore: Central and South America East Asia Australia and Oceania Canada (Perhaps the most progressive place for LGBT/Issues on the Planet) Bruce Henderson, Queer Studies: Beyond Binaries, Harrington Park Press 2019
