Making a short revision of the history of gender inequality, have you noticed how compared to the queer movement, the fight for feminist rights was halfway won considering the only two players in the game were already on board? Women had men to oppose and demand equality. But in the case of queer equality,these  people weren’t even in the picture. While feminists strived to break the categories they imposed on them, queer had to fight to be part of the mainstream and at least be figured on these categories that nowadays they too are seeking to break.

Riki Wilchins, Executive Director of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, is credited to have said that the gay movement is the “next big social movement,” according to this site.

Come to think of it, the gay movement is definitely garnering more support than ever. But is it enough to merit a comparison with the civil rights movement? The amount of people hurt by racial or ethnic discrimination far surpasses the gay population, even though gay stats can be tricky because many haven’t come out.

I can see they’re related in the sense of oppression on a matter that shouldn’t even be on the table. But I question whether it’s the next big social movement, because in order for a movement to be big you have to have many people participating, and in these terms, other movements like African Americans, Latinos and Asians seeking fair treatment are creating a greater force. 

This to me means that the more GLBT issues enter the mainstream the bigger their movement will be. They’ve got the support of major celebrities like Brad Pitt, and high-profile events like Ellen Degeneres finally giving the yes to her wife have caused stirs in the stereotyping business.

Stereotypes are limiting. Some people say that although Americans are perceived as friendly and dominating, and Asians as shrewd but reserved, you cannot make a generalization about a whole population. That makes sense because if you take the stereotype seriously and travel to that place, then you might be closed only to that interpretation. You might miss out on great conversations that come from being open.

The same thing happens with GLBT. If you’re told gays are a certain way, you might meet one and not see beyond his sexual preferences. Although it’s becoming more and more mainstream, gays are still subject to pointing fingers and seen as “different.” But what bothers me is that they’re judged on their sexual preferences, and that is something that shouldn’t even be a matter to discuss in the first place.

Discuss ideas, policies, things that affect all the population like hunger, global warming, the economy. But why is it relevant to discuss one’s sexual preferences? 

I love it that the media likes to point out Sarah Palin is the first woman vice-presidential candidate for the Republicans.

Poster of the movie taken from http://fer-furtado.blogspot.com/

Since there are many changes to be done for GLBT to have a safe place at work, school and in the community, the Gender and Sexuality Center at UT devotes conferences and educational series to promote a culture of equality. On Thursday they will present “Ma Vie En Rose (My Life in Pink)” in CPE 2.208 at 4 o’ clock. They plan to have a discussion after so if you’re interested in the topic this would be a good place to discuss ideas. This is the first movie of a series of educational movies the GSC will be hosting on transgender films during the Fall. “Ma Vie En Rose (My Life in Pink)” tells the story of the life of a transgender child as she faces society and struggles to break free from gender stereotypes.