B BH 251 Straight Talks I: Advanced Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Peer Education
All students who are part of the Straight Talks program have completed or are currently enrolled in B BH 251.
Course Description:
This course will afford students opportunities to develop presentation skills and critical consciousness about sexual/affectional orientations and gender identities/expressions across different cultures. We will engage this subject matter through exploration of social issues related to heterosexism, homophobia, racial/ethnic diversity, social justice, and group facilitation skills.
Through instruction, readings, discussions, interactive exercises, participation, self-reflection and guided teaching experiences, students will have opportunities to achieve the course objectives as outlined below. As a result, students will be prepared to present educational sessions on sexual/affectional orientations and gender identities/expressions, as well as facilitate educational presentations on related topics.
Course Objectives:
- To think critically about your spiritual, social, economic, political, and cultural existences and their relationship to your understanding of sexual/affectional and gender identities/expressions.
- To develop critical consciousness that will bring awareness of the ways custom, ritual, and tradition helped shape and continue to shape our daily lives.
- To develop a fuller understanding of the way gender identities/expressions and sexual/affectional orientations are conceived of by people across different cultures and the ways in which these conceptions link with other elements of identity including ethnicity, class, gender, ability etc.
- To develop facilitation and presentation skills.
- To obtain knowledge about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) histories, as well as contemporary issues and concerns.
- To acquire general information on sexual/affectional orientations, gender identities/expressions, identity development, feminist and queer theories.
- To refine your ability to provide programming activities in the form of facilitation, discussion, skits, and exercises.
- Develop a sense of community and rapport with other students through class discussions and projects.
- To challenge us to consider the following questions:
- What does it mean to provide educational programming?
- What does it mean to be a peer educator?
- How do I influence others by my involvement in this program?
- How do I change the world so that it is a better place?
If you would like any additional information about the Straight Talks course please contact the LGBTA Student Resource Center.