Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Open Access Articles

Burdin, Johannah, Samantha Rouillard Nov 2023

Burdin, Johannah, Samantha Rouillard

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Johannah Burdin shares her story as a lesbian/queer woman experiencing southern Maine in the 1990s. Her story touches on topics involving coming out, relationships, a traumatic incident that left her disabled, activism, and much more. She was active in her youth in spreading awareness on the AIDS/HIV crisis, education on safe sex, and spent her evenings at popular Portland gay bars, like Sister’s Bar and Limelight/The Underground. Although she is not much into drinking, she recognized these were some of the few spots queer people could go to make community and relationships. Johannah also shares her story of becoming a …

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Q&A: Privilege And Allyship, Anonymous Feb 2016

Q&A: Privilege And Allyship, Anonymous

SURGE

Question: I’ve always wondered about this: as a white, heterosexual male person who cares about the way minorities and marginalized populations are treated, what gives me the right to feel offended or call someone out on something they say that’s a definite gray area when I don’t belong to that group? I believe that as a privileged individual it is my responsibility to advocate as an ally but it would conversely be an exercise of my privilege if I were to be the one to decide what is and isn’t offensive to a whole group of people I don’t belong …

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Belonging, Bridges, And Bodies, Sheena Malhotra, Kimberlee Pérez Jul 2005

Belonging, Bridges, And Bodies, Sheena Malhotra, Kimberlee Pérez

Graduate Student Scholarly and Creative Submissions

Feminists' negotiations of academic spaces are often facilitated by allies who act as bridges for us. We interviewed three pairs of women who are friends, colleagues, or partners and analyzed their stories for notions of how they were enacting bridgework for each other within the context of fluid identities, and shifting power relationships. We find that bridgework happens primarily along three axes in these relationships: bridging to community, bridging to power, and bridging to consciousness. This paper unpacks the differentials of bridgework done by differently racialized bodies as a means to understanding the conditions for belonging those bodies evoke. We …

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Correspondence From A Umaine Alumna, Ruth W. Allen, Donald M. Stewart May 1974

Correspondence From A Umaine Alumna, Ruth W. Allen, Donald M. Stewart

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Handwritten letter from an alumna of the UMaine Class of 1973, expressing support for the University's actions related to the Wilde-Stein Club and the Alumni Fund's acknowledgement of her donation. Transcription: May 12, 1974 Dear Mr. Mooers: I read recently in the Washington Post of the struggle of University of Maine homosexuals for the right to meet and organize. I would like to convey through you, my sincere congratulations to Chancellor McNeil and the trustees for a courageous stand in the face of the threat of loss of financial support. The whole article pricked my conscience, and enclosed is my …

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Letter Of Support From All Souls Congregational Church, J. Dudley Utterback Apr 1974

Letter Of Support From All Souls Congregational Church, J. Dudley Utterback

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Typewritten letter from the chair of the Board of Deacons of All Souls Congregational Church, Bangor, Maine. A vote by members of the Board of Deacons pertaining to the Wilde-Stein Club and the pending "gay symposium" addressing issues faced by homosexual people supported the action of UMaine Trustees and the right of the freedom of speech.

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Correspondence From A Maine Citizen, Geri Merola, Howard R. Neville Mar 1974

Correspondence From A Maine Citizen, Geri Merola, Howard R. Neville

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Typed letter from a Maine citizen in support of holding a "gay symposium" on the UMaine campus. President Howard Neville penned a handwritten response at the bottom of the letter that reads: Dear Gerri Merola - Thanks very much for your letter. The "Ayes" stack is much smaller than the "Nays." Yours helps - S Y - HRN

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Letter From Maine Civil Liberties Union, Gilbert Zicklin Mar 1974

Letter From Maine Civil Liberties Union, Gilbert Zicklin

Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Typed letter from Gilbert Zicklin, President of the Maine Civil Liberties Union, to Lawrence Cutler, chair of the University of Maine Board of Trustees supporting the decision to protect the civil rights of Wilde-Stein Club members.

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Essay Of Support From A Maine Citizen, Lisa Giguere Mar 1974