Vocation

Great news! OUTLook has a lecture series!

A few of my thoughts about the lecture series first: I understand fully that OUTLook’s constituency is very small; LGBTQ Christians are a bit of a niche, especially in a college setting. Because we don’t directly serve a large population, the lecture series is important because it brings the larger community into our work. This semester, we have three lectures, and although we are an organization through Marsh Chapel, only one of the three lectures directly deals with religion (the first one: see below). All three lectures are specifically designed to be interdisciplinary; we will be exploring queer issues in Religion, Biology, and Law, and we hope to ignite conversation among the diverse groups that will hopefully be attending this lecture.

So onto the main events!

1: AIDS, Sexuality, and the American Church in the 1980’s

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

7:00 p.m., STO B50

Prof. Anthony Petro, Boston University Religion Department

While members of the Christian Right decried the AIDS epidemic as the wrath of God, many more Christians called for care and compassion for victims of the disease and sought to involve the church in fighting AIDS. Protestants and Catholics alike quickly entered public debates regarding politically charged topics such as homosexuality and sex education. Focusing on the first decade of the epidemic in the U.S., this talk will highlight the far-reaching social and political ramifications of Christian participation for the trajectory of AIDS prevention and care.

2. Evolutionary History, Developmental Mechanisms, and Diversity in Human Sexuality

Thursday, November 15, 2012

7:00 p.m., SED 130

Prof. Karen Warkentin, Boston University Biology Department

The prevalence and diversity of non-reproductive sexual behavior, same-sex sexual behavior, and same-sex pairbonding and coparenting now documented in animals call into question common assumptions about functions of sexual behavior and expectations of exclusive heterosexuality. Our growing knowledge of the complexity of mechanisms through which genetic and environmental factors combine to affect development also gives us new ways to think about the variation among individuals. I will examine human sexual diversity through these lenses, in the context of our deep and more recent evolutionary history.

3. No Queer Left Behind: LGBT Students’ Education Rights

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

7:00 p.m., STO B50

Prof. Orly Rachmilovitz, Boston University School of Law

Education plays a significant role in shaping one’s view of herself and of the world. As such, schools and universities are a primary source for pressures on young queer people to conform to mainstream straight society. But these environments can also promote respect for sexual diversity and facilitate empowerment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. This talk will address the legal protections for LGBT students whose education rights (access to education, safety from discrimination or harassment, and free speech rights, among others) have been violated by their educators or their fellow students. We will examine the meaning and scope of these rights both in schools and in universities, compare rights violations based on sexual orientation to those based on gender identity, and consider how to improve current law for LGBT students in the future. Participants are highly encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences during the discussion part of the evening.

I hope to see many of you there!