GNDS 102 - Understanding LGBT Identities

An inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural examination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) identities in contemporary United States society that draws from history, literature, sociology, philosophy, psychology and communications studies to understand the diversity of gender expressions and sexual orientations. This course surveys who LGBT people are and how academic study of these identities has developed. It explores the connection between women’s studies and gender studies, and the ways women’s studies has grown to include analysis of how gender and sexual orientation interact and intersect, and how heterosexism and homophobia function in various contexts and affect everyone in society. This course requires students to engage both written and visual texts, to apply and connect material from the course to life outside the classroom, and to investigate sexual minority identities in terms of communities, cultures and political movements. Assessment Level(s): ENGL 101 /ENGL 011 , READ 120 or consent of program coordinator. Three hours each week. Formerly GS 102.

3 semester hours

Course Outcomes:
Upon course completion, a student will be able to:

Use appropriate vocabulary and demonstrate comprehension of key concepts related to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) studies.
Identify major historic events significant in LGBT history, and key connections between these events and larger U.S. political and cultural history.
Identify the ways in which expressions of human sexuality change relative to time and place, by studying sexuality throughout historic time periods, across cultures, and in comparison with contemporary United States psychological and sociological definitions, particularly of sexual orientation and gender.
Demonstrate understanding of the complexities of LGBT identity formations; how sexuality intersects with other identities such as gender, social class, race, ethnicity, age, religion, geographic region, abilities/disabilities.
Analyze how various areas of the media and the arts use LGBT cultural images to portray LGBT people, particularly emphasizing how pop culture helps establish cultural identity in LGBT communities but also examining LGBT people’s roles/contributions to all arts.
Assess psychological and social impacts of prejudice and discrimination aimed at the LGBT community, from interpersonal interactions to social institutions such as the family, education, religion, health care, politics and the military.
Examine key current civil rights, safety, health and work issues affecting LGBT people, such as non-discrimination policies and marriage equality.
Recognize the connections between women’s studies and gender studies, , as well as how LGBT studies understands gendered roles, power differentials by gender and gender expressions cross-culturally, both in relation to orientation and apart from it.

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