From performing in Shakespeare plays to hosting “drag balls,” the art of drag is an important part of LGBTQIA+ history and activism. Drag is a performance art that uses costumes, makeup, and other tools to present a theatrical exaggeration of gender. It challenges gender norms and critiques inequalities. However, in 2022, some US states introduced legislative measures regarding where and when drag can be performed. This fueled harmful rhetoric and misconceptions about the art form itself, which is not the first time drag has come under scrutiny.
Drag culture is as old as human culture. Many indigenous cultures practiced long-standing traditions of gender variance and non-binary identities. One of the first known drag queens was William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved man, who began hosting drag dances at his Washington, DC home in 1882. Frequently raided by police, his dances were some of the first recorded acts of resistance in America’s fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Nino Testa, an associate professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, says, “The pleasure was the resistance…The celebration of queer joy when it’s been denied in all these other spaces is activism.”
Drag has played an essential role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, including the Stonewall riots of 1969. Drag performers were among those who took a stand against the mistreatment they experienced. This sparked a series of protests that paved the way for modern LGBTQ+ activism today. As we near the end of Pride Month, we encourage you to not only continue learning about LGBTQIA+ history but to celebrate it too! While drag is activism and resistance, it is also a source of joy for people of all ages, races, and genders around the world. Check out the upcoming Twin Cities Pride events, which includes drag bingo, drag shows, and drag brunches!
Showing posts with label pride month. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pride month. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated in June to honor the Stonewall riots of 1969, a significant event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. These riots, triggered by a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, ignited a series of protests and activism that paved the way for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. Pride Month serves as both a celebration of the progress made and a protest against ongoing discrimination and inequality. Twin Cities Pride, which celebrates its 52nd anniversary, is deeply rooted in the history of LGBTQ+ activism in Minnesota.
The University of Minnesota has a unique connection to Pride. The University of Minnesota plays a significant role in preserving and highlighting LGBTQIA+ history through its Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies. This collection is a vital resource for researchers and the public, housing a vast array of documents, artifacts, and personal stories that reflect the rich history and diverse experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
One notable Minnesota figure connected to this collection is Leo Joshua Skir, a pioneering gay Jewish activist. Skir, also known by his pen name "Leo Ebreo," was an influential member of the New York Mattachine Society and a founding member of the Gay Activists Alliance along with Arthur Bell, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Marty Robinson. His work and advocacy are well-documented within the Tretter Collection, providing invaluable insights into the early LGBTQIA+ rights movement and the intersection of Jewish and gay identities. Thanks to Josemy Morales who brought the story of Skir to our attention.
Looking to learn more?
The University of Minnesota has a unique connection to Pride. The University of Minnesota plays a significant role in preserving and highlighting LGBTQIA+ history through its Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies. This collection is a vital resource for researchers and the public, housing a vast array of documents, artifacts, and personal stories that reflect the rich history and diverse experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community.
One notable Minnesota figure connected to this collection is Leo Joshua Skir, a pioneering gay Jewish activist. Skir, also known by his pen name "Leo Ebreo," was an influential member of the New York Mattachine Society and a founding member of the Gay Activists Alliance along with Arthur Bell, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Marty Robinson. His work and advocacy are well-documented within the Tretter Collection, providing invaluable insights into the early LGBTQIA+ rights movement and the intersection of Jewish and gay identities. Thanks to Josemy Morales who brought the story of Skir to our attention.
Looking to learn more?
Thursday, July 13, 2023
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Disability Pride Month
Beginning in July 2004, Disability Pride Month celebrates the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed in July 1990, as well as the lives, histories, and achievements of people with disabilities worldwide. Governor Tim Walz officially declared Minnesota’s recognition of the month in 2022, and there are events to celebrate the month all over the world and online.
If you’ve attended the “Abelism and Disability Justice” course offered by the Office for Equity & Diversity Education, then you’ve seen a video of the dramatic and effective protest known as “The Capitol Crawl,” where disability advocates climbed the steps of the US Capitol by any means necessary to show the need for equitable and accessible accommodations. A recent oral history of the Crawl provides background and details from those that attended.
Although the ADA has led to immense improvements, the struggle for disability justice continues. For example, this summer in Minnesota, thousands of families will visit our state parks and hike along their trails. But most of these trails are inaccessible to people with reduced mobility. Last year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) introduced a track chair pilot program to five of its parks—a step towards making our parks available to people of every ability.
Know of other resources for celebrating Disability Pride? Please share them with the ASR DEI Community of Practice Group (ASR DEI CoP). Not a member? See below!
Join our DEI Community of Practice
Subscribe to our DEI Google Group to discuss the latest news, connect with the committee, and keep up with DEI initiatives. More information about the group and DEI committee can be found on the ASR Intranet.
Beginning in July 2004, Disability Pride Month celebrates the passing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed in July 1990, as well as the lives, histories, and achievements of people with disabilities worldwide. Governor Tim Walz officially declared Minnesota’s recognition of the month in 2022, and there are events to celebrate the month all over the world and online.
If you’ve attended the “Abelism and Disability Justice” course offered by the Office for Equity & Diversity Education, then you’ve seen a video of the dramatic and effective protest known as “The Capitol Crawl,” where disability advocates climbed the steps of the US Capitol by any means necessary to show the need for equitable and accessible accommodations. A recent oral history of the Crawl provides background and details from those that attended.
Although the ADA has led to immense improvements, the struggle for disability justice continues. For example, this summer in Minnesota, thousands of families will visit our state parks and hike along their trails. But most of these trails are inaccessible to people with reduced mobility. Last year, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) introduced a track chair pilot program to five of its parks—a step towards making our parks available to people of every ability.
Know of other resources for celebrating Disability Pride? Please share them with the ASR DEI Community of Practice Group (ASR DEI CoP). Not a member? See below!
Join our DEI Community of Practice
Subscribe to our DEI Google Group to discuss the latest news, connect with the committee, and keep up with DEI initiatives. More information about the group and DEI committee can be found on the ASR Intranet.
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
June is the time to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride
In 1999, President Bill Clinton became the first president to officially designate June as pride month to support LGBTQ+ people and recognize the seminal event of the Stonewall uprising. Subsequent presidents have made similar declarations, but pride parades were held long before the 90s, with the first Gay Pride Liberation March being held in Manhattan in 1970.
The Twin Cities Pride Festival and St Paul Pride Festival are opportunities to celebrate, but don’t limit yourself to one weekend! Here are just a few resources to get you started!
In 1999, President Bill Clinton became the first president to officially designate June as pride month to support LGBTQ+ people and recognize the seminal event of the Stonewall uprising. Subsequent presidents have made similar declarations, but pride parades were held long before the 90s, with the first Gay Pride Liberation March being held in Manhattan in 1970.
The Twin Cities Pride Festival and St Paul Pride Festival are opportunities to celebrate, but don’t limit yourself to one weekend! Here are just a few resources to get you started!
- Making Gay History podcast (start with Prelude to a Riot)
- Disclosure (a Netflix documentary on Hollywood and the Trans community)
- The Trans Self Care Workbook
- Indigenizing Pride/Indigenizando el Orgullo LGBTQ+ | Youth in Action/Juventud en acción (Webinar)
If you have other resources you’d like to share, send them to asrdei@umn.edu and we can feature them in News and Notes.
Join our DEI Community of Practice
Subscribe to our DEI Google Group to discuss the latest news, connect with the committee, and keep up with DEI initiatives. More information about the group and DEI committee can be found on the ASR Intranet.
Join our DEI Community of Practice
Subscribe to our DEI Google Group to discuss the latest news, connect with the committee, and keep up with DEI initiatives. More information about the group and DEI committee can be found on the ASR Intranet.
Thursday, June 2, 2022
June is LGBTQIA+ Pride Month!
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Spearheaded by trans people of color, Stonewall was a pivotal moment that served as a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Pride was initially celebrated on the anniversary of the beginning of the Stonewall Uprising and it has since grown to be a month-long celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.
As we celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride this month, it is also an opportunity for allies to support the community in ways that last beyond the end of June. Allyship extends beyond your proximity to the LGBTQIA+ community; in addition to supporting your queer friends and family, allyship requires an active role in fighting to end the harmful practices that target the community.
We encourage you to support and uplift the community this month and seek out ways to continue that support in the remaining months.
Resources:
- “It’s not enough to celebrate transgender women of color during Pride. It’s time to learn their history.” - The Lily
- “Nearly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills filed in 2022 so far, most of them targeting trans people” - NBC News
- Staff Course: Inclusive Practices for Names and Pronouns in Academic Contexts
- 50+ Resources For LGBTQIA Allies - Buffer
- TC Pride Events 2022
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