WEEK 02 - Terminology and Key Concepts

Section 1 - Introduction to Terminology

1.1 Introduction to Terminology

  • It’s important to understand and know how to use current language and terminology when talking to and about queer and transgender people. Language that describes gender and sexual diversity is changing quickly. The context behind the language can also vary from place to place, and even between generations.

  • Always respect and value the language people use to describe themselves.

  • LGBTQ+: This term stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer or Questioning. The plus sign recognizes that there are also other identities that aren’t named in the acronym (such as but not limited to: pansexual, asexual, gender fluid, genderqueer, etc.).

    • The term Queer and Transgender People are used as descriptive labels for the wide range of people whose gender identities and sexualities have led to prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization.

  • QUEER: The term Queer is used in multiple ways:

    • can describe radical, political, or philosophical commitments

    • can describe academic approaches, critiques, or analysis

    • can be used to describe people who identify with or engage in non-normative sexual and gender practices

    • can be used as a more inclusive term than LGBTQ+ acronym because it encompasses more identities than the LGBTQ+ acronym does.

    • can align with the principles of Queer Theory - an approach to cultural studies that invites people to investigate and challenge assumptions about gender, sexuality, and identity. Queer Theory rejects the assumption that there is a quote, “normal gender identity, a normal sexual orientation, or a normal way to express gender and sexuality.”

    But there are many people uncomfortable with the term Queer because of its history of being used as a word to hurt members of the LGBTQ+ community… as far back as the 19th century and into the mid 20th century, the word was used as a derogatory term for those who didn’t conform to gender and sexual norms.

  • Sex: this term is used to discuss a person’s biological, anatomical, and genetic traits related to reproduction. A person’s sex is assigned at birth, usually by a healthcare professional who examines the baby’s genitals and uses that to decide whether a baby is male or female.

  • Secondary Sex Characteristics: develop as a result of estrogen and testosterone.

    • Estrogen: often described as a female sex hormone, one that helps with development of breast tissue, widening of the pelvis and hips, and menstruation for people who have uteruses.

    • Testosterone: often described as a male sex hormone, one that leads to increased facial hair and body hair, the development of an Adam’s apple, and a deeper voice.

      • Everyone has a combination of estrogen and testosterone - so it’s not accurate to call them either female or male hormones… it’s the combination of both that leads to variety in how people look with regards to their secondary sex characteristics.

  • Intersex: somebody who’s anatomy or genetic material doesn’t fall clearly into either female or male sex categories. Some are born with clear intersex indicators, and some intersex conditions become visible later in a person’s life. Sometimes people need genetic testing to learn that they are intersex as the condition doesn’t always show up physically. 1 in 1,500 babies or about 1.7 percent are born with intersex traits (which is about as common as having naturally red hair).

1.2. Introduction to Terminology - Reading

Required Reading

Optional Readings

Section 2 - Sex Does NOT Equal Gender

2.1. Sex Does NOT Equal Gender

2.2. Quiz

WEEK 01 - Introduction to Queering Identities

Section 1 - Introductions

Introduce Yourself! We would like to know you.

I’m Steven, and I use they, them, and their pronouns. I’m a third year Bachelor of Fine Arts student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, here in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. In terms of its geographical landmass and population size, Surrey is the second largest city in British Columbia, behind Vancouver. I live in South Surrey, which is about a forty-minute drive southeast of downtown Vancouver, and it’s also close to the border with Washington State. As a Canadian citizen, I was born in Williams Lake, a small town in British Columbia nestled in a natural wilderness that I’ve often missed over the years.

My artistic practice uses a interdisciplinary approach with a variety of media that includes drawing, painting, performance art, analog and digital photography, as well as sculpture and installation to explore issues of identity and humanity’s impact on our environment.

In 2020, I announced to the world on social media that I was demipansexual, and in 2021 I came out as genderfluid, or nonbinary / genderqueer. By birth, on my biological Mother’s side, I have Indigenous First Nations roots which I have recently been learning more about. Ultimately, I look very white and I’ve always done my best to understand and own the privilege that comes with that.

Artifact 1: Photo, Steven H. Lee. "COMING OUT DEMIPANSEXUAL." August 19, 2020.

I’ve long suffered from major depression and anxiety, it’s something that’s haunted me for as long as I can remember - like a grey fog that’s often floating just above my head. I understand now that when I was younger I was a high functioning depressive, and was I was often very good at putting on different masks to hide my depression from other people, including members of my own family. As I get closer to forty than I’d like to be, I’ve learned that my depression resulted in my developing high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, primarily due to my propensity to indulge in unhealthy junk food as a way of burying my pain. In the last few years, it’s also impacted my ability to sleep in that I suffer from insomnia as well as sleep apnea due to my being overweight because of the overeating. I’d then often end up sleeping a lot throughout the day which killed my ability to be productive with anything. So I’m trying to take steps towards addressing all of this, through mindfulness and walking everyday.

I’m also dyslexic, which can make it difficult to learn new things, especially if there’s memorization involved. For example, I do a lot of photography, and I have a fairly good eye for composing interesting shots but I still struggle describing how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO affect exposure in a photograph. But I can do it, like it’s a kind of muscle memory when I hold a camera.

Artifact 2: Photo, Steven H. Lee. “FADED PLACES” is a 20"x28" digital daytime long exposure taken on February 23, 2019.

Finally, I’m also an empathic INFJ-T, which means I can take on and feel emotions very easily. I used to view this as a curse, but more recently, I’ve tried to appreciate this aspect of my identity, as it’s helped me to cultivate unconditional compassion, curiosity, forgiveness, gratitude, love, and reverence for all life, starting with myself. Although I know that, due to my depression, I’ve not always been great at cultivating this for myself. But I’m trying.