Critical Dialogues on Transsexual/Transgender Identities in Politics, Media, Activism and Culture

 Date: April 12 & 13, 2012

Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Memorial Union Building (MUB) 

 Transecting Society is a two-day symposium dedicated to exploring controversial political topics related to transsexual/transgender identities in contemporary U.S. culture.  We welcome scholars, activists, artists, lawyers, performers, writers, non-profit workers and others who are interested in exploring the oppression of trans people in our society, and strategies for promoting our collective liberation and civil rights.

 We are currently seeking abstracts on any of the following topics:

Trans Identities and Feminism: histories of inclusion/exclusion, trans feminist theory and activism, trans feminist controversies, transphobia in radical feminism and the anti-pornography movement, coalition-building in trans and feminist communities

Trans Identities in Lesbian/Gay/Queer Communities: Gay, Inc., LGBT as coalition, LGBT non-profits and political organizations, gay transphobia, trans-exclusive legislation, ENDA, “coming out” as heterosexual after transition.

Trans Identities and [Pseudo]Science: GID reform, transvestic disorder, DSD, autogynephilia/homosexual transsexualism, sexualization of trans women In pseudo-scientific literature, The Bailey-Dreger fiasco, psychological/psychiatric gate-keeping, trans-“reparative” therapies for youth and adults

Trans Terminologies: Debates on terms, labels, identities, language, e.g. transgender as umbrella term, reclaiming the term “tranny”, usefulness of “cisgender” etc.

Trans Media and Media Defamation : Jerry Springer, “She-Male” pornography, comedy skits, Ticked Off Trannies criticism and activism, journalistic accounts of anti-trans hate crimes, misgendering in the press, trans-produced film, photography and media with a radical agenda, trans in high fashion: latest "trend" in capitalist entertainment.

Trans Blogosphere and New Media: Blogs, Blogging and Blog wars, Vlogs, internet radio, digital video, Youtube channels, digital activism, social networking, web sites, second life etc.

Trans Identities and Race: Race, ethnicity, trans people of color, racism, white privilege, whiteness, racial conflict and division in trans communities

Trans Activism in the Past, Present and Future: Stonewall, Compton’s Riots, Dewey’s Riots, Trans Pioneers, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha Johnson, Christine Jorgensen, gay historical imperialism, trans militancy, etc.

Trans People in/and Electoral Politics: Trans folks and voting, trans people running for office, trans delegates, trans people in state politics, anti-trans campaigns at state and national level, “bathroom bill” and political fear-mongering, etc.

Critical Trans Politics and Social Movement Coalitions: racial and economic justice, disability rights, global and transnational trans issues, sex worker rights, age, adultism and ageism, fat liberation, prisoner rights

Please submit a 300-word abstract in which you clearly describe your research paper and how it relates to the themes of the conference.  Please send as a MS Word Attachment by February 1, 2012 to transecting.society@gmail.com and include the following info as well: paper/presentation title, name, address, phone, email, institutional affiliation, brief bio.  Feel free to send queries to the above email as well.

Sponsored by TransGender-UNH and the UNH Women’s Studies and Queer Studies Programs