Queer Talks: Uniquely Queer, Uniquely You

By: Nick Malendowski

Queer Talks – what a fascinating name for an on-campus conference. I’m sure, as you read the title, you may be thinking “What could this possibly entail?” I was certainly intrigued when I found an old program from November 2018 when I first started in my role at the Honors College, and ever since then, I’ve made it my mission to bring this event back – and larger than it has ever been, thanks to a Women in Philanthropy Grant from EMU. The purpose of Queer Talks is to give a platform for queer advocacy and representation. During this one-day conference, faculty, staff, students, and community members will have the opportunity to attend educational sessions, hear from impactful speakers, connect with peers, and learn more about issues impacting the queer community. 

When I first started thinking about this event, I immediately reached out to Emma Mentley Wuetrich, Coordinator of the LGBT Resource Center. One of my primary goals for this year in my position was to engage in more cross-campus partnerships, and this felt like a perfect event for our offices to jointly support. With her support and equally collaborative mindset, we hit the ground running with a series of ideas, entertainment, information sessions, and more. Once we had the shell created and received a Women in Philanthropy Grant to do more for attendees, we did just that – MORE. With this additional sum of money, for which we are EXTREMELY grateful, we plan to bring in local drag queens, an exceptional keynote speaker, and have a few more tricks up our sleeve that you will need to attend the conference to find out about! 

For many queer students, feelings of isolation arise when they do not feel supported, resulting in increased mental health issues, disengagement, and fears of inadequacy. According to one study by BestColleges (2022), more than 1 in 4 LGBTQIA+ college students have considered dropping out of college due to mental health issues stemming from their queer identities. Among these students, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students are more likely to say their mental health had worsened since starting their college education. As I’m fairly new to my job (I’ve almost hit a year!), I’ve had the chance to chat with many students about their experiences on campus and attend events celebrating students for their authentic selves. Through all of these conversations and events, I have seen a new side of students when they can just be who they are, whatever that may mean for them. 

This is why our theme for the conference this year is “Uniquely Queer, Uniquely You.” As a queer person myself, I remember growing up and never fitting in with most of my peers. These feelings lasted until I found a queer community myself, connecting with different folx from different backgrounds and identities. Once I found myself within this community, I found my life to be more fruitful, engaging, and exciting, as I felt I could be my authentic self in most situations. Although this is not the case for everyone, diving into my queer identity has made me proud to be queer – and as the theme suggests – uniquely queer. 

Now, I know this is a teaching blog, and is focused on teaching and learning topics, so I think it’s important to bring an additional educational tie-in, too. Around the country, queer people are under attack for simply living authentically. Queer people are being subject to bills, laws, and regulations that aim to limit their ability to be who they are. According to GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), 2023 was a record-setting year for state legislation specifically targeting LGBTQIA+ children and adults in healthcare, entertainment, education, and more. Knowing the harm these kinds of laws could do to young people, I urge educators to advocate for the students they teach, both inside the classroom and out. Whether you are voicing your support publicly, online, through monetary donations, or in the voting booth, it is time to stand up, stand out, and be heard.

Queer Talks will be held on Wednesday, March 6th in the Honors College from 4:00-9:00pm. We are accepting 30-minute session proposals through Monday, February 5th, 2024, and highly encourage you to submit a proposal! Students, faculty and staff, and community members are all welcome to submit a proposal. Some topics to consider include:

• Queer Identities

• Queer Advocacy Efforts/Ways to Advocate

• Intersectionality

• Queerness in Academia

• Queerness as Art

• Queerness in the Workplace

• And more! 

Past presentation titles include:

• “Beyond Chaz: Trans Masculine Contributions to Society”

• “So Where Do I Put my Pronouns on My Syllabus?”

• “The Future is Queer, Decolonized, Regenerative, and Solarpunk”

• “Tracing the Etymology and Contemporary Uses of the Word Queer”

The proposal form asks about what your session will entail, its objectives, and how the proposal relates to the theme of Uniquely Queer, Uniquely You. To submit a proposal, you can do so here!

Not interested in presenting, but still want to attend? RSVP via this link! Sign-ups will close on Friday, February 23rd. All are welcome to join us, whether you identify as a member of the queer community or not.