Embedded Files
Credit: Robert Couse-Baker
Joy is the True Gay Agenda
Joy is the True Gay Agenda
Joy isn't a distraction from resistance—it's resistance itself. In the tradition of Marsha and Sylvia, queens of the streets and the movement, and Miss Major, our living legend of trans liberation, joy was what kept us going long enough to fight back. This module kicks off the syllabus with queer and trans joy—not as a feel-good escape, but as a powerful reclamation. The kind of joy that's unapologetic, unbridled, and survives. Joy that's raw, unflinching, and unmarketable, refusing to ask permission.
It's not about waving rainbow flags in bank windows. It's about refusing to disappear when the world doesn't want you to exist.
Core Content
Core Content
Article: Queer Joy as Rage: A Tool to Transform - University of Vermont ScholarWorks
Short academic reflection explores how joy serves as a powerful political and emotional tool for queer and trans individuals navigating systemic oppression. It highlights the intricate connections between joy, rage, and healing.
Youtube Video: Queer Joy is Resistance - Tea & Glitter talk
A 7-minute personal video essay that explores how queer joy is connected to resistance, safety, and embracing identity. Perfect for classroom discussions or solo reflection.
Article: Defiant Joy: Trans Creativity as Sacred Resistance – Geez Magazine
A poetic, theologically rooted essay that delves into joy as a sacred practice for trans creators navigating life amid political violence.
Article: Choosing Joy as Resistance: A Queer Parent’s Guide to Thriving – LinkedIn Blog
Deep thoughts from a queer parent on finding joy in uncertain times, all for the sake of their child. Grounded in love, hope, and everyday actions.
YouTube Video: Queer Joy is Resistance: Kyle Casey Chu & Bex Taylor-Klaus - LGBTQIA+ Town Hall
Two queer creatives share a heartfelt conversation about joy, community, and navigating anti-LGBTQ+ backlash—in a way that's as intimate as a conversation around the kitchen table.
Article: Trans Joy is Resistance - Fusion Magazine
Exploring trans joy through a photo essay and personal reflection, this piece showcases how self-expression, community gatherings, and creative resilience thrive in the face of political challenges.
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflect, Resist, Rejoice: Discussion & Practice
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
Reflection Questions (great for journaling or small group dialogue)
When was the last time joy felt like survival for you?
What does queer or trans joy feel like in your body?
How does it move through you?
Who or what teaches you how to celebrate in a world that tries to erase you?
What moments of joy have helped you reclaim your power?
In what ways has your joy been policed?
How have you protected it?
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
Critical Discussions Prompts (for classrooms, study groups, or peer-led facilitation)
How does joy operate as a form of resistance in the face of systemic harm (e.g., anti-trans laws, state violence)?
What are the risks and rewards of centering joy in activist spaces?
How do we avoid co-opting joy into rainbow capitalism and keep it rooted in liberation?
How can joy function as a bridge between survival and thriving in queer/trans communities?
How do race, class, gender, and ability shape access to joy in queer spaces?
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Creative + Collective Practice Prompts (for workshops, zines, or embodied learning)
Create a Joy Map
Sketch or collage moments, people, places, and practices that bring you joy. Label the ones that feel most radical.
Playlist of Power
Build a communal playlist of songs that make you feel joyful and invincible. (Consider naming it “The True Gay Agenda.”)
Letters to Future Joy
Write a short letter to your future self about the kind of joy you hope to feel and protect.
Joy as a Protest Poster
Design a visual slogan or poster that turns queer/trans joy into a protest message.
Movement Practice
Pick a song and move like you’re too powerful to be policed. Even if it’s just in your bedroom.
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