Please discuss today’s Intro to LGBTQ+ workshop with Chris Woods. Please discuss any new terms, strategies, concepts, or resources that you learned about. Discuss the Breakout Room prompt: How can technology support LGBTQ+ communities in the time of COVID? How can different kinds of living situations be supported?
We discussed a bit about heterosexism (believing that heterosexuality is the only “normal” or preferred sexuality) in our first few classes I’m sure, but going back to it in Chris’ session was important. The slide after this was about defining cissexism (valuing cisgender people and upholding the gender binary) which was a term I was unfamiliar with. I was, however, familiar with cisgenderism and assumed that it was probably the same thing; I learn now that it is NOT the same thing, as gender and sex are not perfectly synonymous.
It’s very important, I believe, to continue to put labels (in a constructive way) on the ways that people are discriminating others so we can better identify what is really going on in their dialogue and where the person that is discriminating needs education and development. Whether someone is truly discriminating another person/group or is just using poor/inappropriate vocabulary in their dialogue, these terms as label help to quickly aid in materializing what is happening in the conversation/situation and what needs to be done (constructive education, punishment for hate, etc…).
Technology can support LGBTQ+ communities in this time by, first, continuing to be utilized to bring people together through the use of zoom and modes of social media. Not only can these technologies be used for people to spend time with each other and feel less alone, but they can also be used as platforms for raising awareness for the community and continuing to educate people, as well raising money for people and groups in tough living situations during this time.
Diversity+Tech 