LGBT Issues in the Curriculum

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LGBT Issues in the Curriculum

• Meg Moritz
• Associate Dean for
• Graduate Studies
• SJMC
• University of Colorado
• Moritzm_at_colorado.edu
• Roy Aarons Diversity Workshop

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Prepared for

• Roy Aarons Diversity Workshop
• AEJMC
• San Antonio
• August 2005

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Gay Issues are

• Often excluded from diversity issues which can be
  limited to race/ethnicity
• Included as diversity issues, but only as
  diversity issues
• In fact, they are mainstream, in the news every
  day

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How do educators approach this issue?Some
assumptions

• Faculty are not taking this on
• Students are not necessarily aware
• Leadership is needed...where will it come from?

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Leadership can come from

• Student governmentLGBT student centerIndividual
  students in your programs
• Faculty, straight and gay
• Administration but not by fiat

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Multi-faceted approach

• Grad studentsAdjuncts
• Guest speakers Journalists Community leaders
• Readings, screenings
• Identify your allies and use them

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GEOGRAPHY MATTERS

• What's the political climate on your campus?
• in your community?
• in your state?
• Is there student backlash against LGBT issues?

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COMING OUT IN THE CLASSROOM

• Presumed heterosexuality is the norm and that has
  to change
• Grad students, faculty need guidance...and
  protection
• Students can retaliate in course evaluations

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Assessment LGBT issues

• Each of the assessment areas offers possibilities
  for addressing LGBT issues

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Law. Understand and apply the principles and
laws of freedom of speech and press, including
the right to dissent, to monitor andcriticize
power, and to assemble and petition for redress
ofgrievances.

• Hate speech
• What is it?
• How does it differ from offensive speech?
• Is it legal and how is it reconciled with free
  speech?
• Are the rules different in TV than on the Web?
• Why is godhatesfags.com a sanctioned domain name?
• Many LGBT issues involve redress of grievances
• AIDS Research
• Gays in the military
• Marriage, adoption
• Boys Scouts of America

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HISTORY. Demonstrate an understanding of the
history and role of professionals and
institutions in shaping communications.

• Do students know the history of absence, silence
  and marginality of gay voices?
• Do they understand how gay rights issues emerged
  in the media?
• How gay characters were/are typically framed
  through a straight lens?
• Do they know what advocacy groups like GLAAD are?
• Do they know professional organizations like
  NLGJA?
• Do they understand how media practices (for
  example, using the word gay) influence and shape
  public opinion?

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DIVERSITY. Demonstrate an understanding of the
diversity of groups in American society and in a
global society in relationship to communication.

• LGBT people are part of every city, town
• News outlets serve diverse audiences
• The gay community is not a monolith
• There is diversity within LGBT communities...
• Political
• Religious
• Racial
• Gender
• Generational

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VISUAL LITERACYUnderstand concepts and apply
theories in the use and presentation of images
and information.

• How do you visually represent gayness?
• People in leather?
• Do you hide facial features?
• Is it people in the gay pride parade?
• Is it the boy/girl next door image?
• How are lesbians visually stereotyped? Gay men?

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ETHICS Demonstrate an understanding of
professional ethicalprinciples and work
ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy,fairness
and diversity.

• Some ethics questions
• Can gays cover pride paradesthe marriage
  debates?
• If your newspaper has taken an editorial position
  against ( or for) marriage for gay people, does
  it affect your reporting?
• What is outing? Is it ethical for a reporter to
  out a public figure?
• What is inning?
• Suggested reading The Contested Closet by Larry
  Gross

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CRITICAL THINKINGThink critically, creatively
and independently.

• Suggested exercises
• There is a major debate about the availability of
  AIDS drugs in developing countries. While many
  argue in favor of low cost generic
  anti-retroviral drugs, drug companies argue in
  favor of patent protection. Describe and analyze
  those opposing positions.
• Evaluate websites for the American Family
  Association, American Research Council, and PFLAG
  (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
• Describe and analyze reparative therapy for
  gays? Why does this continue to be debated in the
  media?

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RESEARCH. Conduct research and evaluate
information by methods appropriate to the
communications professions in which they work.

• Suggested project An in-depth report on
  HIV-AIDS.
• Whats the infection rate in your community?
• How do you get tested? Where do you go...what
  happens...what does it cost?
• If you need treatment...what is it? Where do you
  go...what kind of doctor...what kinds of
  drugs...does your insurance cover the costs?
• If you are writing about someone who is
  HIV...how do you deal w/ privacy issues?
• Can you interview someone under treatment?
• How are family members affected?
• Are there stories about students...faculty...membe
  rs of the university community that could and
  should be told?

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Research

• How is HIV transmitted? What is vertical
  transmission?
• What is pediatric AIDS?
• How are issues different in Africaor other
  parts of the world?
• Note AIDS is a complex story and can be
  approached from a variety of perspectives
  including medical, political, economic, and
  cultural.

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WRITING. Write correctly and clearly in forms
and styles appropriate for the communications
professions, audiences and purposes they serve.

• Suggested exercise. See GLAAD, NLGJA and AP
  stylebooks on correct word usage.
• Homosexual or gay or queer?
• Lesbian or gay woman?
• Marriage or gay marriage?
• Transgender or transsexual or cross dresser?

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Numeracy. Apply basic numerical and statistical
concepts.

• Suggested exercise calculate some basic
  demographic information about your community,
  including...
• of Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, other ethnic
  groups
• of gay students on the campus
• of gays in the population in general

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Editing.Critically evaluate their own work and
that of others for accuracy and fairness,
clarity, appropriate style and grammatical
correctness.

• Suggested exercises
• Select a topic such as marriage for same sex
  couples. Circulate one article from the American
  Family Association website and another from
  GLAAD. Have students read, edit and discuss for
  factual accuracy and fairness.
• October is Coming Out Monthrecord local coverage
  of events in your community. Screen and evaluate
  reports being especially aware of visual
  representations.