US Gay and Lesbian History (324-0-20)
Instructors
Lane Fenrich
8474917560
1922 Sheridan Rd.
Meeting Info
Technological Institute L361: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
This course explores the history of homosexuality as a legible social and cultural category; of LGBTQ individuals and communities as self-aware social and political actors; and of LGBTQ/anti-LGBTQ politics as arenas in which modern Americans have debated fundamental questions about human rights, personal autonomy, and citizenship. We will map the frameworks within which individuals have sought out, enjoyed, and understood sexual activity with others of the same sex; trace the growth of gay and lesbian communities over the course of the twentieth century; and survey the dramatic shifts and turns from the emergence of an organized gay and lesbian political movement to the traumas of the AIDS epidemic and the increasingly bitter fights over LGBTQ citizenship and personhood of the last few decades.
Registration Requirements
Attendance at first class mandatory
Learning Objectives
By the end of the quarter you should be able to: Summarize and evaluate the major arguments surrounding the history of same-sex desiring individuals and communities and explain the significance of choosing one over another; Identify key figures and moments in the history of LGBTQ people in the U.S. and explain their significance; Explain how LGBTQ history maps onto the history of other social categories such as race, gender, and ethnicity—and vice versa; Locate contemporary issues and debates in the broader context of LGBTQ history and American history generally.
Evaluation Method
Three podcasts produced as part of groups of three.
Class Notes
History Major Concentration(s): Americas
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Associated Classes
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-329: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 3:00PM - 3:50PM