The mission of the Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC) is to support the University’s core value of preparing members of the USF community to be men and women for and with others; and to support the University's commitment to providing individuals with the critical reflection skills necessary to succeed in life. By providing opportunities for the USF community to continually gain greater understanding of self, we empower individuals to develop as whole persons and by extension, to honor the wholeness in others. The GSC collaborates with USF students, staff, and faculty to provide programs and resources that are focused on deeply exploring gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation and develop critical thinking and multicultural leadership skills that enable social justice advocacy and promote social justice.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Welcome Week
Kick off the new semester by checking out some new programs being offered in the Intercultural Center and the Gender and Sexuality Center!
GSC WORKSHOPS
DIY: KNITTING INTRODUCTION | MONDAY, JAN 28 | 2:30 - 3:30
Dialogue about how and why DIY and crafts have been influential to women for centuries, all while learning a new skill!
MOVEMENT MONDAY | MONDAY, JAN 28 | FACEBOOK.COM/USF.GSC
Check out the GSC's Facebook page to connect to a new local or national person or group who's making change.
RESISTANCE THROUGH ART | THURSDAY, JAN 31 | 4:30 - 5:30
Art has played a crucial role in activism. Learn about ways art and creativity have shifted opinions and made change throughout history. Explore how art can make a difference in the ways you work towards social justice.
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IC WORKSHOPS
LOUDER THAN BOMBS | TUESDAY, JAN 29 | 12:00 - 1:30
A writing workshop which will focus on the many facets of identity and exploring them through creative expression.
IDENTITY BOARDS | TUESDAY, JAN 29 | 4:00 - 5:00
Can you envision your identities? Explore your multiple identities by creating vision boards and discussing how you move through your identities every day as a student.
NO CRYING IN BASEBALL | WEDNESDAY, JAN 30 | 12:00 - 1:00
Is there oppression in professional sports? Meet and discuss with other sports enthusiasts who want to get down to the truth.
Past events:
THE INVISIBLE WAR Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Monday, Nov 5 | 5:00pm - 8:00pm
McLaren 252
English Tongue, Latin Soul
Presentation by LUIS INOA
Thursday October 4, 7:30pm
UC 4th Floor Lounge
Allies Workshops
Diversity Resources Open House
Tues, October 2, 11:30am-12:30pm
Cultural Centers (UC411/412) and UC 4th Floor
The purpose of the event is to provide information on diversity-related resources (classes, events/programs, involvement opportunities) to students. Meet, mingle and mix with other students, staff, and faculty who are concerned with addressing diversity and social justice issues at USF.
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Film Screening and Discussion
Tues, September 25, 6:00pm-9:00pm
Maier Room, Fromm Hall
Latin@/Chican@ Studies Welcome Event
Mon, August 27, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Cultural Centers/UC 4 Lounge
Asian American & Pacific Islander Welcome Event
Wed, August 29, 11:30am – 1:30pm
Cultural Centers/UC 4 Lounge
African & African American Welcome Reception
Tue, September 11, 5pm – 7pm
Berman Hall, Fromm
Dialogue for Change apps due
Wed, September 5
Cultural Centers/UC 4 Lounge
Thursday, 3/29, 1130a-1230p in the IC (UC411/412): The Help
Join the Intercultural Center and Gender and Sexuality Center in examining race relations in the film. Clips will be screened, followed by discussion of the roles and narratives in the film.
Intercultural Center and Gender and Sexuality Center co-sponsored films:
3/29, 230p: The Price of Sex
3/30, 230p: Photos of Angie
3/31, 12p: Education Under Fire
Tuesday, 4/3, 630-8p in the IC (UC411/41): Chisme y Comida
Focus: Racism in the classroom
What is racism? How does racism manifest in the classroom? What are our resources?
Wednesday, 4/4, 7-930p, McLaren 250:
Esther Madriz Diversity Scholars + Lyricist Lounge present - Fight the Power: An Intercultural Hip Hop Night
Do you like Hip Hop? Are you concerned about housing, food justice, and rising tuition fees in the USF Community? Come join other active students to explore the potential of Hip Hop as a vehicle for social change. Featuring: G-Saleem, DJ Agana, VarCity SF, USF's own Spoken WORD artists, MC A-1, and more. Free food and music. For more information contact: esthermadrizscholars@gmail.com
Thursday, 4/5, 6-9p, Maier Hall (Fromm): Let's Talk About Sex Work
Featuring a panel of representatives from the Sex Workers Outreach Project who will be discussing the social, legal, and health issues surrounding sex work. Sex Workers Outreach Project - USA is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of sex workers and their communities, focusing on ending violence and stigma through education and advocacy. Refreshments will be provided.
Monday, 4/9, 130-3p, UC 222: Gayle Pitman on Sexual Orientation Research in Context
Professor Pitman will provide an overview of some of the major landmark studies in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning/queer) psychology. In doing so, she will bring the science to life by describing the people and the politics behind the research studies, raising a variety of political, moral, and philosophical questions. Pitman's talk is based on her new book, "Backdrop: The Politics and Personalities Behind Sexual Orientation Research." This event is sponsored by the Gender and Sexuality Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, the LGBTQ Staff and Faculty Caucus and the ASUSF LGBTQ Representative. For more information on this event please contact the Gender and Sexuality Center at 415.422.4431
Thursday, 4/12, 2-5p: LGBTQ Allies Workshop
LAST SESSION OF THE YEAR! Become a part of the USF Allies Network and create a more inclusive campus community. Learn more about the LGBTQ resources at USF and in the community. Develop skills to confront homophobia. Have a supportive space to learn more about the issues faced by the LGBTQ community.
RSVP.
4/16-4/20: Sexual Assault Awareness Week
All events co-sponsored by the Gender and Sexuality Center, Communities Against Sexual Assualt (CASA), Health Promotion Services, Student Housing and Residential Education, USF Public Safety, Latinas Unidas, ASUSF Senate, USF Men's and Women's Rugby Teams, the Social Justice League. For any questions please contact 415.422.4431.
Monday, 4/16, 7-8p, UC 415: Create Against Rape
Art, performance, murals, collage, knitting, etc. to inspire sexual assault prevention.
Wednesday, 4/18, 1130a-130p, Gleeson Plaza: USF Takes a Stand Against Sexual Violence
This event will showcase USF's stand against sexual violence. Check out healthy relationship information, self-defense strategies from USF Public Safety Officers and more. Buy a baked good and support the fundraising efforts of Latinas Unidas for their participation in SF WAR's 7th Annual Walk Against Rape.
Thursday, 4/19, 1-2p, UC 222: What is Consent?
Discussion on what consent means and why it is important in the prevention and understanding of sexual violence. Refreshments served.
Thursday 4/19, 5:30pm, Kalmanovitz Amphitheatre: Take Back the Night
This event will include a forum to share thoughts and stories related to sexual assault followed by a candlelit march through campus.
Other Sexual Assault Awareness Education Programs:
Thursday, 4/26, 7-9p, Black Box Theater, Lone Mountain
This year's theme is "Nothing Sexy About It: Alcohol Abuse and Sexual Violence Prevention."
Saturday, 4/28: SF Women Against Rape 7th Annual Walk Against Rape
Join Latinas Unidas in participating in this 3/5 mile walk to empower survivors by walking together on the streets of San Francisco against rape.
Tuesday, 4/17, 1145-1230p, in front of Gleeson: What A Stranger May Know - a Memorial for the 2007 Virginia Tech Campus Victims
Following the Virginia Tech shootings that shocked the nation in 2007, playwright Erik Ehn’s wrote a collection of plays entitled “What A Stranger May Know”. The work provides an outsider’s meditation on the lives of the victims of the shooting, one play for every victim. Please join the students of professor Varea's Latin/@ American Performance & Culture class for a public reading of these plays as a memorial for the victims on the 5th anniversary of the shootings. Counseling Services and Public Safety staff will be at hand to field your questions and concerns regarding how to keep USF an open, compassionate, and safe space to help prevent these tragedies from happening in our community. For information and questions, please send an email to: varea@usfca.edu
Wednesday, 4/25, 730-9p, Maier Hall (Fromm): Student Activism Arts and Resistance Summit
The purpose of this event is to increase the level of social consciousness through the eyes of a USF student perspective. The summit will feature two student activists from the Eyes on Arizona collective, and Leslie Lopez and Favi Garcia. They will discuss their experiences with social justice, racism, immigration, and civil rights in Arizona.
Thursday, 4/26, 630-8p, Cowell 106: That's So Gay!
Kristo Gobin's one-person play about coming out and how he and everyone he knew deal with it.
Thursday, 5/3, 1145-115p, McLaren 251:
You Gotta Give 'em Hope - The Critical Role of Families in Promoting Well-Being for LGBT Youth
Dr. Caitlin Ryan, Director of the Family Acceptance Project (FAP) at SF State University, will discuss the groundbreaking research and new family approach that she and her team have undertaken to help ethnically and religiously diverse families and communities support LGBT youth and youth adults. This work is changing the paradigm to decrease risk for suicide, homelessness, school victimization and HIV and to promote wellness and positive development for LGBT youth and young adults – in the context of their families. Dr. Ryan will discuss her work with diverse families, communities and religious groups, and will screen one of FAP’s short awarding-winning family videos that shows a family’s journey to support their gay son.
End of the Year Ceremonies:
Tuesday, 5/15, 1-3p, McLaren: Lavender Graduation
Tuesday, 5/15, 6-8p, McLaren: Asian Pacific Islander Graduation
Wednesday, 5/16, 1-3p, McLaren: Latino Recognition Ceremony
Wednesday, 5.16, 6-8p, McLaren: Vizuri Kibiza
Female Sexuality in GLEE
Explore female sexuality in the show Glee with Dr. Sarah Burgess, Director of the Gender and Sexualities Studies program. Dr. Burgess will be showing clips from Glee while considering: Is there a difference between the way men and women are written on the show? How is female sexuality represented? How does the show hyper-sexualize some of the female characters while de-sexualizing others? This event will occur on Wednesday, February 29 from 630-8p in the Intercultural Center (UC 411/412).
Allies Workshops now underway!
The LGBTQ Allies Workshop hopes to educate students, staff, and faculty about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, and ally (LGBTQQIA) issues and create a more inclusive USF community. Allies workshops are only offered in the Spring semester so sign up soon!
Spring LGBTQ Allies Workshop Dates:
Friday Feburary 3, 10am to 1pm
Tuesday March 6, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Thursday April 12, 2pm to 5pm
To sign up for a workshop click here.
Writer and cultural critic Mattilda Sycamore asks: "Why are faggots so afraid of faggots?"
The Gender and Sexuality Center, the Sociology Department, the LGBTQ Caucus, and Queer Alliance present a discussion and reading with author and cultural critic Mattilda Sycamore on Wednesday, February 8th from 5-630p in the UC 4th Floor lounge. Sycamore will be reading and discussing her new edited collection, “Why Are Faggots So Afraid of Faggots?: Flaming Challenges to Masculinity, Objectification, and the Desire to Conform.” She observes: Gay culture has become the ultimate nightmare of consumerism, whether it's an endless quest for Absolut vodka, Diesel jeans, rainbow Hummers, pec implants, or Pottery Barn. As backrooms are shut down to make way for wedding vows, and gay sexual culture morphs into “straight-acting dudes hangin’ out,” what are the possibilities for a defiant faggotry that challenges the assimilationist norms of a corporate-cozy lifestyle? Books will be available for sale, and Q&A will follow the event.
For further information on this event please contact the Gender and Sexuality Center.
