Beyond binaries with robyn ochs

Photo by oliveeoyl

Overview

I’m a champion of being a lifelong learner. Throughout college, my perspective has been challenged and expanded and I’ve realized that JMU wide array of opportunities, including both educational and experimental, that students should take advantage of. A recent event, Beyond Binaries with Robyn Ochs, took place on Thursday, November 2nd in Madison Union. A respected speaker, editor, teacher and self-identified bisexual “LGBT activist”, Robyn is well-seasoned in her craft.

Robyn’s presentation focused on research studies, audience feedback, and lived experience demonstrating that the “binary” structure of society should be challenged. Society is constantly changing , therefore we should look to expand our perspectives alongside it. In the queer community, it must recognized that nobody has to fit into an orientational label dictated by society. Allies ought to recognize that sexuality and gender are fluid; members ought to feel free to identify with a label, embrace fluidity, or completely disregard them.

The complexity of humans

A major topic discussed during her presentation was a term incredibly relevant to our course: intersectionality. She explained that the term originates from Black feminism, and coined by critical legal race scholar, Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, in 1989. Every one of us is so much more than any one label that we identify with. Each component of our identity informs who we are and how we present ourselves. To learn more about intersectionality in depth, check out this collection of media sources from Syracuse University. A few additional components that she presented alongside this were:

1. There is a large difference between self identity and ascribed identity (how others “read us” either consciously or unconsciously)
2. Identities, and the labels affixed to them, come with societal expectations
3. When someone shares with you how they identify, that may not be the whole story of who they are as a whole individual
4. We use “identities of convenience” (AKA different labels for our aspects of personal identity) with different groups (friends, family, professors, etc.) depending on factors such as personal comfort and relationship with the individual/group

Robyn presented quite a bit of information that is impossible to adequately cover here, however, the main takeaway from this portion was that certain societal expectations and teachings have been ingrained into us since childhood. When prompted with the question: “who had the opportunity to learn about sexual orientation and gender identity in school before college?” No hands were raised. The queer youth of America are delayed in the opportunity to learn more about themselves, surrounded by the views of their parents, hometown, and government: and may never do so. Learning about one’s own identity, attending higher education or a preferred path, or seeing queer representation in different types of media doesn’t advance “the gay agenda” (contrary to popular belief). Instead, it opens the door to other forms of self identification that do not fit society’s framework.

Robyn’s awesome, but what about speakers of color?

It was excellent and affirming to hear about the experience and career of an established speaker like Robyn, but she is privileged to be able to speak upon her identity as a publicly bisexual woman. Individuals of color do not receive that same liberty to freely express themselves as part of the queer community. The national and global expressions of pride that we enjoy, such as Pride Fest, are owed to this community. I felt comfortable listening to Robyn, but I would rather learned how to support another community instead. Our comfort zone is meant to be abandoned, but only if we’re ready to do so. 

To learn more about the efforts, historical events, and movements made by Black and Brown activists in the queer community, click here.