Are you unclear about what Asexuality is? Do you want to find out about ace representation in past and contemporary media? Join Queer Coalition and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for the final Queer Talks Lunch ‘n’ Learn of the semester on April 4 to enhance your understanding of this often misunderstood sexual orientation and investigate how popular culture contributes to and confounds acephobia. Participants are invited to begin arriving to 213C Milner Library and getting food at 11:30 a.m.; the workshop portion of the event will begin at noon and conclude at 1 p.m.
This workshop will introduce participants to the key terms and concepts related to asexuality and the ace community. Complicating simplistic definitions of this sexual orientation, the talk will clarify the ways in which asexuality labels can be complicated by looking at them intersectionally. The talk will then consider the long-standing stigmatization ace individuals face, referring to their sexological and medical origin. This will move the discussion to a workshop, which will analyze past and contemporary fiction, television, and cinema representation of ace individuals. With interactive exercises, participants will be asked to reflect on how the media represents asexual individuals, commenting on the ways characters adhere to or contrast asexual stigmatization.
All are welcome to attend, though participants are asked to fill out the RSVP form by March 28 to ensure enough food is ordered. Those who wish to become members of Queer Coalition (Illinois State University’s LGBTQIA+ faculty, staff, and graduate student affinity group) may also fill out their membership form.
