Author, playwright, performance artist and activist Kate Bornstein is scheduled to present “Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us,” on Sunday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the NDSU Memorial Union Great Plains Ballroom. The event is free and open to the public.
The talk will explore the definitions of gender identity and expression. Bornstein will personalize the topics as she shares her story of transformation from being a heterosexual man to a lesbian woman. She will challenge attendees’ notions of male and female and the experiences of those for whom social norms about gender do not fit.
“Kate’s message is very important as we become increasingly aware of the diversities around us. Transgender individuals who work and study in our community and within our colleges and schools experience unique challenges every day. If we want to truly create a safe and inclusive learning environment at NDSU, it is imperative we listen to and learn from the experiences of those who are diverse, especially our transgender neighbors,” said Kara Gravley-Stack, director of the NDSU Equity and Diversity Center.
Bornstein has written groundbreaking gender theory books, including “Gender Outlaw,” which has been incorporated into curriculums at more than 120 colleges and universities around the world. Her latest book is “Hello, Cruel World: 1010 Alternatives to Suicide for Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws.”
The event is co-sponsored by the Equity and Diversity Center, Campus Attractions, Memorial Union, NDSU Cooperative Sponsorship Committee, Compass Program Foundation, GayStraight+ Alliance, NDSU Pride Network, Women and Gender Studies, Sexual Assault Prevention Programs, Couples and Family Therapy, Residence Life, Concordia College Office of Intercultural Affairs, Minnesota State University Moorhead and the FM Pride Collective and Community Center.
For more information, email kara.gravley-stack@ndsu.edu or call 231.7091
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