Presentation by Kaitlin McElroy and Katie Gorkoski for WRTG 3020 Fall 2010.

1. Defining Gender and Sexuality

2. SEX: refers to biological differences; chromosomes, hormonal profiles, internal and external sex organs Gender: Describes the characteristics that society or culture delineates as masculine or feminine

3. Sex = male or female Gender = masculine or feminine “man” = male sex + masculine social role “women” = female sex + feminine social role

6. Authentic Gender Model The Authentic Gender Model is modeled after Samuel Lurie and is a form that fits all 6 Billion People of the world into one Gender model. It is an alternative to the traditional models. Sex Gender Role Gender Identity Sexual Orientation Too often in the United States we assume that the are only two sexes, Male and Female, And that everyone fits into one or the other, the traditional model will assign masculinity And femininity respectively and those people identifying as men and women will date the Opposite sex. We know that this model is far more complicated in reality.

7. Check your box…

8. GENDER BENDING - A person who looks or behaves in a way regarded as androgynous or as typical of the opposite sex - May self identify as a transgender, genderqueer, transsexual, intersexual, drag queen, or drag king - Sometimes a form of social activism undertaken in response to assumptions or over-generalizations about genders

9. Most people struggle with their bodies on a daily basis, but for some their bodies act as a prison. The person they are is locked inside and looks nothing like the one they see in the mirror Fortunately surgeries and therapies are widely available now. Although all of society isn’t in the waiting room with open arms, they can’t always tell!

10. TRANSGENDER IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO GAY All gays are not transgender and all transgender people are not gay. Many people in America put these terms hand in hand. There is a distinct difference between gender and sexuality. Just because someone cannot decide what gender they identify with doesn’t mean they are confused about their sexuality as well.

12. RuPaul RuPaul gained fame from a variety show in the late 1990’s. Now known as an actor, singer-songwriter, performer, model, and drag queen is a beautiful addition to the American popular culture. "You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.”

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14. Hollywood

15. Hollywood glams up being gay, lesbian, or a gender bender. Especially by glorifying the “gay best friend” role in many movies and the red carpet However, many of the teens watching these movies are struggling with their own sexuality Many are too afraid to truly be themselves and take their lives in response to the immense internal pain they have endured

16. In just THREE weeks FIVE teens between the ages of 13 and 19 committed suicide THIS semester

17. The project targets the LGBT teens facing bullying for their sexual orientation or hide it for fear of bullying. In response to the recent teen suicides, many celebrities have joined the cause and created their own videos for the project. Openly LGBT adults serve as mentors to teens to provide support and show that things really do get better.

18. The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, And sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay For the privilege of owning yourself - Friedrich Nietzsche Opening our eyes to the wide array of sexual orientations and genders in our culture will establish a safe community for each individual to live their life how they see fit, with no reservations or fears.

19. This presentation was brought to you by Kathleen Gorkoski Paige Kelley and Kaitlin McElroy