Programs

Below is a partial list of workshops to be presented on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the QTPOC Conference. Updates still to come.

  

An Analysis of Black and Latinx Queer History

Mannie Brown [they/them], University of San Diego

Queer people of color have made significant advances in our world and it is time we begin to recognize and celebrate their legacy. By analyzing scholarly articles, journals and interviews, the goal was to formalize a timeline of historic people that identify as being a queer black or latinx person. Important historic events that are essential to queer history were also included.

Anti-Blackness 101: Reparations, Representation, and Respecting Black Existence

Azisa Todd [they/them], UCLA

As a result of Anti-Black rhetoric and co-opting of Black experiences, BlaQue, UCLA's Black LGBTQ inclusive org created an anti-Blackness workshop/training. The purpose of this workshop is to provide an overview of Black History and in depth understandings of the multifaceted ways in which Anti-Blackness is perpetuated in our every day lives. The Black history that we were forced to learn in high school and continue to be complicit in must be erased and retold. Black lives, history, voices, and existence matters.

Art & Empowerment: An Interactive Collaborative Workshop

Jesse Avila [he/him], UC Santa Barbara

This workshop explores the many different ways in how art can play a role in activism. Together, we will have the opportunity to reflect, collaborate, and tackle social issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community through a variety of art forms. Attendees will walk away with the power to incite change through art by being an active ally and practitioner.

Brujeria and Conjure: An Exploration of How Your Ancestors Worshipped Before Colonization and the Enslavement

Shawn Vee [she/her, they/them], UC Riverside

There is an ever present awakening. Black, brown and indigenous folks are starting to recuperate from the violence of forced christian assimilation and beginning to ask themselves, “Who, what or how did my Ancestors worship before enslavement and/or colonialism?” Brujería and Conjure, is an exploration of how our Ancestors worshipped before colonization and the Enslavement. Interactive and discussion based, Brujería and Conjure is  a workshop where participants will begin the work needed to explore and reclaim ancestral spiritual practices like Lucumi, Hoodoo, Obeah, Vodun, Candomblé, and  other syncretic religions rooted in nature and Ancestor veneration.

Central American Activist History and Contemporary Activism

Isabella Davidson [she/her], UC Los Angeles

Chloe Davidson [she/her], UC Irvine

In Southern California, many Central Americans feel the need to mask their identities or “pass” as Mexican in order to be accepted by their Latino peers. This becomes more complicated for queer Central Americans who at once may need to “mask” their Central American identity and their queer identity. This workshop will focus on the history and contributions of Central American activists within the USA while also focusing on how to uplift Central American narratives today.

Coming Out and Living as a Queer Asian Pacific Islander

Kevin Nguyen Chastain [he/him], UC Riverside Residence Life
Learn more about facts and data within the Queer Asian Pacific Islander Community. In addition, this is an open space to talk freely about what it means to be Queer and Asian Pacific Islander and how we can better support one another. This space is for those who identify as Queer and Asian Pacific Islanders and those who identify as allies. 

Decolonization, Indigenization, Self-Determination: Looking Beyond Land Acknowledgements

Leisette Rodriguez, Esq., CSU Dominguez Hills

As we move towards acknowledging our existence on Native lands and give respect to those who are the original Indigenous inhabitants, how do we, Indigenous peoples and allies, work towards the decolonization, indigenization, and even self-determination of our universities, communities, and ourselves for the benefit of all Indigenous peoples everywhere?

Decolonizing "Coming Out"

Luis Alba [he/him, they/them], UC San Diego

Ariana Martin [she/her], UC San Diego

We aim to challenge the idea of 'coming out' as a generalized concept that is applied equally in experience, relevance and magnitude across all cultures within the LGBTQ+ community. Through personal testimonies and experiences, we want to address the differences in what it means to “come out” based on the cultural and social specifications relevant to individuals holding QTPOC identities. Ultimately, we aim to create and foster a safe and brave space to express the diversity, sentiment and validity in QTPOC “coming out” experiences and testimonies. This is a closed space for QTPOC.

Decolonizing Our Desires

Yash Bhambhani [he/him], University of Mississippi

Sexual racism (e.g., "no Asians no Blacks") is rampant in the men who have sex with men community, even in large metropolitan cities. Even more insidious is discrimination perpetrated by men of color towards men of color - many men of color will say covertly or overtly that they prefer to date White people but not people from their own ethnicity/race. This presentation will portray research on sexual racism, with a particular focus on promoting radical acceptance, self-care, and well-being in queer men of color. We will discuss how White supremacy and internalized racism contribute to men of color feeling "lesser than" or devalue their own or other fellow men of color's attractiveness and worth as a potential mate. Finally, we will talk about how to decolonize our desires and finding intimate connections not spurred on by institutional racism.

Embracing Vulnerability & Finding Community: How to Lead Authentic Lives Filled w/ Support

Justino Flores [he/him], UC Riverside

The aim of this workshop is to tap into our vulnerability and use it as a powerful agent in leading authentic and vulnerable lives. Often society places a stigma on being vulnerable, this workshop will showcase the strengths of vulnerability and how it leads to supportive relationships. Topics within the workshop that will be discussed are how to seek support from loved ones, how to find community within the LGBTQ+ community, and tangible methods on how to keep a sustained authentic way of living. Justino will be sharing his personal experiences with vulnerability and how he has found it to be empowering in creating a sense of community and as an improvement in one’s mental wellbeing.

Encuentros Disidentes: Social Movements & Identities in Latin America

Xelestiál Moreno-Luz [she/her, they/them], UC San Diego

This multi-media presentation acts as a portal into the dreams, frustrations, and resiliency of Colombian and Mexican LGBTQIA+ realities, – & folx who deserve recognition BEYOND the acronym. Through strategies of documentary arts, Xelestiál has compiled resistance struggles that center gender/sexual self-determination and community healing. We witness the truths of transgender women who are survivors of the Colombian Armed Conflict, youth participating in the politics of refusal through the reclamation of Colombian public space, and collectives, activists, and artists resisting transfemicides in the Mexican landscape. This presentation utilizes both contemporary and experimental documentary approaches and compiled with the hopes that northern American communities become inclined to rise in solidarity with the global south.

Harnessing Light and Darkness as Mirrored Fatality: How queer of color performance can be harnessed for collective healing

Samar Saif [they/them], UCLA

Mango Gwen [they/them], UCLA

Mirrored Fatality is Queer brown femme performance art duo, Mango Gwen and Samar Saif. Mirrored Fatality honors metamorphosis as ritual. They share their ancestral wisdom, rage, and regeneration through experimental and healing punk. Mirrored Fatality curates portals  centered on healing and transformative justice. Influenced by their experiences as musicians in the Los Angeles DIY punk scene, transnational grassroots organizers for prison abolition and anti-militarism, UCLA Gender Studies undergraduate students equipping  Queer theory as praxis-Mirrored Fatality ignites your long awaited catharsis. Grounded in radical love, Mirrored Fatality builds a community of artists, healers, organizers, and activists as they travel and tour. Will you join them in imagining the future  we’ve all been waiting for? Experience Mirrored Fatality’s reflections and bear witness to your highest, truest self. Join Gwen and Saif as they perform as Mirrored Fatality and present their collaborative Gender Studies Honors Thesis, "Biomimicry Queer Transmutation:  A Healing & Transformative Justice Framework for Radical Grassroots Organizing."

I'm Here: Mindfulness Circle

Mackala Lacy [they/them], The Well Healing

"I'm Here: Mindfulness Circle" invites space for Black/POC trans and queer women, femmes, and gender nonconforming folks to lean into sensation and be present, just as we are. Members can expect to practice mindful awareness of sensory objects (such as oils, candies, toys, stones, etc.), their bodies and breath within the power of community. I'm Here is an opportunity to be vulnerable and introspective, explore new skills for self and communal care, and/or take solitude and rest. Optional: light stretching. 

Intersectional Poetics

Ei Lopez [he/him], UC Riverside

This workshop will speak about the importance of QTPOC people having an artistic outlet for evaluating and expressing all our intersectional identities and how to use poetry to discover yourself and explore these identities. We will be employing poetic techniques like stream of consciousness, metaphor, repetition, point of view and flow. Through this safe and supportive workshop, participants will be able to create and share their work while learning from the experiences of their peers.

Intersections of Oppression: Disability & Race

Los Angeles Spoonie Collective:
Ducky Jones [they/them]
Lilac Maldonado [she/her, they/them]
Edi Zermeno [she/her]
Laurent Corralez [he/him, they/them]
Tasha Fierce [they/them]

The panel is based upon aim decentralization dialogue based around the intersections of disability, chronic illness, neurodiversity within the transgender, queer, and intersex community with a primary focus on people of color. This is a closed space for People of Color.

Latinx Queer Punks

Lilac [she/her, they/them], LA Spoonie Collective

Laurent [he/him, they/them], LA Spoonie Collective

Jean [she/her, they/them], POCHA

Sandra [she/her], Quest Band Official

Jessica [she/her, they/them], UCR y Claremont Graduate University

The purpose of this panel is to explore the use of art from the perspectives of  Latinx queer punkeria/ punkerix. We will explore our navigation of academia, activism and how we came to use the mediums of our choice to voice our perspectives of the world as QTPOC. We will  discuss our definitions of punk and how they apply to use individually and how we have used punk sentiments & attitudes to branch out to other communities to develop our art.

LGBTQ+ & Study Abroad with Mini Fair

LaSharon McLean Perez [she/her], UC Riverside

David Wick, EdD [he/him], Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

Studying abroad can be a fantastic journey of self-discovery and personal edification!  For LGBTQ+ students, studying abroad can present some unique opportunities and challenges. This presentation will address common concerns, tips for studying abroad, provide travel related LGBTQ+ resources, and international opportunities. A Mini Study Abroad Fair will follow the presentation. Fair participants are as follows: UC Education Abroad Program, UCR Faculty Led Education Abroad Program, Arcadia University: The College of Global Studies, CIS Abroad, IES Abroad, and Spanish Studies Abroad.  

On the Catwalk - The importance of Realness, Ovahness & Shade in Voguing & Runway

P. Dante Cuauhtémoc [they/them], UC Riverside & House of Lauren

Re-popularized by television series Vice's MY HOUSE, and FX's POSE, voguing/performance, and runway walking of the House Ballroom Scene has exploded in popularity and participation across the world. The arts of vogue have a deep and rich history of arts, theory and protest. In this workshop we will explore and embody three main praxes of the House Ballroom Scene: Realness, Ovahness, and Shade. We will also create a small community in workshop, design and create what it means to be REAL for us, and celebrate it through a kiki runway show to Celebrate Ovahness through voguing and walking, and fuel our fiyah through 'constructive shade/glittering.' Lastly, we will conclude with proclamations of resistance, centering our work in our education and growth. This is a closed space for People of Color.

Sex Ed 101/201

Stephanie Orozco [she/her], A Touch of Romance

Sex Ed 101 is an introduction to LGBT sex ed and explores the concepts of consent, hygiene, anatomy, and masturbation. Sex Ed 202 explores sexual relationships, sexual negotiations, and an introduction to sex toys. All individuals are welcome and questions are encouraged.

Sex Ed 301

Stephanie Orozco [she/her], A Touch of Romance

Sex Ed 301 explores kink, BDSM, and sexual subcultures. All individuals are welcome and questions are encouraged.

Spilling the Chai

Ravi Ranawaka [he/him, they/them], UC Riverside

This workshop and roundtable discussion is designed to provide a space and a platform for members of the queer South Asian diaspora (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan, Nepal) to discuss issues around South Asian American identities and experiences. Topics may include queerness within South Asian family structures, South Asian geopolitics, body image, and mental health, cultural reclamation and preservation of cultural practices, dating and relationships, the advent of the Patriot Act, food, representation in the media, music and South Asian fashion as a form of resistance against colonialism and the White cisheteropatriarchy.

Supporting Transgender Employees in the Workplace

Cecil Chik [she/her], CSU Fullerton

More than one in four transgender people have lost a job due to bias and more the three-fourths have experienced workplace discrimination. These rates go up for transgender people of color. Does your campus know what to do if a transgender employee approached them about transitioning in the workplace? Do employees know how the University is prepared to support a transitioning employee? This session will share the process that California State University, Fullerton utilized to educate managers and the campus community on best practices for workplace transitions.   During this sessions, facilitators will provide a framework for participants to utilize if they wish to create a similar resource kit for members of their campus.

Trash Talk: Toxic Masculinity & Centering Femmes 101

Gata Salvaje [she/her], Church of Men are Trash

Highlighting the different power dynamics that exists in various intersections, Gata digs deeper into the phrase "men are trash" and why there is a need to say this statement. Using hands on activities, and having discussions, Gata centers femmes, and highlights how toxic masculinity effects everyone, and why there is a need for liberation through an intersectional feminist lens.

Why is Placing Happiness in the hands of LGBTQ Students Alone Not Enough? (A Qualitative Research on Why it is Crucial to Create A More Inclusive Campus Climate)

Varanee Chinnapong [she/her, they/them], CSU San Marcos

Students apart of the LGBTQ community experience discomfort off campus but also on campus. It is the job of schools to help create a campus wide brave space. Campus climate can affect LGBTQ students’ mental well-being. Like other forms of education, sexuality education ought to be aimed at moving into such newer possibilities, helping students, teachers, and community members learn and teach each other.