Samantha - The bisexual pride button is a symbol representing pride and solidarity within the bisexual community. It typically features three colors: pink, purple, and blue. The pink color represents attraction to the same gender, the blue represents attraction to the opposite gender, and the purple represents attraction to both genders. The button is often worn or displayed by individuals to show their support for bisexual rights and visibility. It’s part of the larger movement for LBGTQIA2P+ equality and acceptance.
Dr. Ryan-Bryant - Tabletop Gaymers Safe Space organization, which promotes safe and inclusive spaces for gaming and community participation
Marz - I think that this Mural demonstrates the importance of connection and justice within the community. The fists raises represents the need for action, and change when human rights violations happen or when tragedies occur within the community. It also represents this idea of coming together to bring forth that change, and advocate for justice.
Samantha - This is the trailer for the 2014 movie Pride. It is set in Wales and the UK in the 80s. The movie follows a group of queer people of all ages coming together to help a community of miners that are striking. In the beginning they struggle with the miners not even accepting their help but as the movie continues we see friendships start to form and people coming together. Both groups support each other and fight for each other. We see all parts of activism in action. The movie also shows people affected by AIDS and how they are also experiencing their government ignoring them. We see people fighting an oppressive government, both queer people and the miners.
Molly - This is a mental Health lifeline specific for trans people. It's important to have services like these available given 40% of transgender adults are diagnosed with depression in the U.S.
Eric - In an earlier discussion post for this class I brought up Celeste, which in terms of queerness in the gaming sphere, is probably the game that stands as the face of trans representation.
An interesting case, as Celeste being a trans story was a pure accident by the lead developer not yet recognizing her own trans identity. Because this understanding of the story: Not only being a story about depression and anxiety, but also about trans identity was incidental, Maddy struggled to find the way to properly acknowledge this truth. A way that would be honoring the subject well, while not "hiding" what could be powerful trans representation for the gaming space.
This article tells the story and experience of that, and is also the acknowledgement of Celeste as a trans story.
Tai - In 1962, photographer Danny Lyon snapped a picture of three young African Americans protesting through prayer in front of a whites only swimming pool in Cairo, Illinois. Their efforts were to integrate business with other spaces of town, and was even used in posters to help expand rights for African American citizens.
Kyle - This picture depicts a mural that is on "The Cafe" at 18th and Castro in San Francisco. The mural is of former city supervisor Harvey Milk who is credited as the first openly gay man elected to public office in California. Harvey stood on the forefront of activism in California during the 1970s until his assassination. The phrase on the megaphone "Hope Will Never Be Silent" was commonly used by Harvey and further demonstrates the commitment to activism.
Bee - Signs are one of the most common forms of activism used by LGBTQ+ activists. They are open enough to use creativity and intelligence to device a quick quote to grab an outsider's attention. Rather than continuously yelling demands and wishes, a sign does all of the work and stands out against a crowd. It's one thing for something to be spoken, another for it to be in writing. This picture was taken from a pride parade in Boston in 1975 and shows a crowd of people parading down the street, holding an array of signs and banners showing their support for the queer community.
Abdul-Halim - Very straightforward picture of a scale that has equal weights on either side and there's a splash of color around the scale. The splashes of color represent LGBTQ+ people and the equality of the scales represent justice.
Cadence - The Social Justice Book Club finds a book, or any collection of stories, that involve underrepresented characters and topics in literature, and often has discussion based on Social Justice. We often discuss different ways we see what happens in what we read in the real world, and the effects of systemic racism, homophobia, sexism, and so much more. It is also an LGBTQ+ friendly space where participants are encouraged to share their preferred pronouns and any other relevant parts of their identity that will contribute to their perspective. Having these conversations about societal issues and injustices allows us all to learn and grow as people, and become more aware of the impact we create in our everyday lives.
Alexandra - This is a banner made by gay activists in support of Sharon Kowalski and her long time partner Karen Thompson, after Kowalski was involved in a car accident with a drunk driver that left her permanently disabled. Legal guardianship was given to her father, who then cut off all visitation rights to Thompson after putting Kowalski in a nursing home, refusing to acknowledge their relationship altogether. In 1988, National Free Sharon Kowalski Day was established by gay rights and civil liberties groups and occurred in 21 cities. Thompson was given legal guardianship of Kowalski in the case of In re Guardianship of Kowalski by 1991.
