What's on your mind?

Got a topic you've been dying to talk about with the Genderqueer Chicago family? Email it to us at genderqueerchicago@gmail.com! We're always looking for new topics!

We're also open to guest facilitators! Email us at the address above if you're interested and one of our fierce organizers will set you up (and be there to co-facilitate/back you up if you'd like)!

Back in the Day: A Trans-Cend Story

A Trans-Cend Story was originally posted to the GqC blog on November 9th, 2009. Have a similar story you'd like to share? Email it to genderqueerchicago@gmail.com and we'll share it on the blog! Please include a name and publishing title!

By J. Gifford

If there is a binary, I fall between it. Racially, I am half-white, half-Chinese. Culturally, I never identified with either despite being raised by my Chinese grandparents- a certain political leader effectively silenced any desires for my family to delve into traditions and memories associated with the Cultural Revolution, and let’s just say that my white-half is more of a wandering capitalist breed than the firm Anglo-Saxon protestant breed they claim to be. In terms of my gender, I’m a boi who binds.

Explaining all of this to my steadfast American grandparents was a rare opportunity to endure a thorough aesthetic critique. My facial piercings became symbols of the antichrist; my Mohawk was pure savagery. We had a common country, a common language, and perhaps even a common childhood experience in suburban America. The thought of broaching the same subject with my Chinese grandparents, whose home lay in communist China, whose English comprehension is humorously questionable (I often check-mate my Grandpa in “cheese”), and whose unspoken traditions promoted the same binaries I fell between, was daunting. I avoided it.

Not seeing my Chinese grandparents for a while, I decided to send them a recent picture of myself through an email. The following is part of the email I received back from my Grandpa:

“The photos are so cute and we love them, the single one of you is very good and like a BOY! Grandma says that you run to fast to come to the world that miss the important signals for a male that must to have, it just a kidding!”

The misspelled words and wonderfully mis-executed idioms speak volumes. Clearly there is a common bond between us that goes beyond mere blood relations. Yes, I am a genderqueer trannyboy, but they are “trans” too… against all odds, they transcended language, culture, and history to transcend the gender binary with me.

Shoes: A Safe Space Discussion

OMG Shoes. Due to overwhelming enthusiasm regarding this suggested topic we will be having a meeting specifically about shoes. See you there.

Wednesday, November 9th
7:00-8:15pm

Access Living (115 W. Chicago)

Safe space meetings are strictly closed to researchers and reporters in their professional capacities. Meetings are open to anyone else wanting to talk and think about gender! For more info, give us a shout at genderqueerchicago@gmail.com!

Trans Issues Focus Group this TUESDAY!

The LGBT Community Fund of the Chicago Community Trust is sponsoring a focus group on transgender issues at Gerber/Hart Library on Tuesday, November 29th at 7:00PM.

Refreshments will be served and every participant will receive a certificate good for one free regularly-priced book at Gerber/Hart Library's Holidaze Book Sale, which begins on Friday, December 2nd.

If you're interested in participating in this focus group, please RSVP by emailingjessica@mortengroup.com by noon on Monday, November 28th.

Thankful Family Dinner this Wednesday!

Family is as family does, and on Wednesday, November 23rd, the Genderqueer Chicago family will join together for a potluck extravaganza! Our usual Safe Space Meeting will be an informal gathering over food!

Join us for our Thankful Family Dinner
The Gerber/Hart Library (1127 W. Granville)
7:00-8:15PM

We'll share stories, food, and thanks. This is potluck, so if you can bring something do. If not, that's okay, too! Come regardless. Bring your friend or your love(s) or well, bring who you want.

This event will be held at the Gerber/Hart Library. For food questions, e-mail genderqueerchicago@gmail.com.

Dinner is held in a space that is CTA/ wheelchair accessible.

Trans & GQ actors wanted!! (Chicago)

from Madsen Minax

I'm a trans identified artist/filmmaker currently seeking trans and gender non-conforming actors for a short experimental film project. Interests explored in the project include nonlinear transformation, dystopias, alternative kinship structures, puberties, homoerotics, nostalgia and voice. The usual suspects.

The script is composed of appropriated excerpts from Hollywood films, primarily coming of age stories, and will be compiled together in a collage-type format. Upon completion this work will screen at film festivals, and possibly some universities throughout the US and abroad.

Henceforth this production has operated with an all queer crew, and folks who are passionate about the ideas at hand.

Though the narrative is highly experimental, there is memorization required. Not likely to be more than 2 script pages per performer. There is no cash payment available, but I am open to discussion of trades of services.

On set experience, and adventure promised. No acting experience necessary, just desire to be involved. :)

The shoots will take place over one weekend in mid December 2011 and will require some travel to be determined. Your cost of food, transport and lodging (if required) will be covered.

There are 5 principle roles open. We will also need some secondary and some extras. There will be some sort of low-key audition of sorts TBD the last week of November 2011.

* Trans people of color, different abilities and young people especially welcome.

Please write to madsenwashere (at) gmail.com

www.madsenminax.com

www.riotactsfilm.com

Blog link: A Responce to Glitter Bombing of Dan Savage

North by Northwestern article covering trans* students.

T GQ Out Mic: CANCELLED!

Due to the passing of Lois Bates earlier today, the T GQ Out Mic scheduled for 7PM at Center on Halsted has been cancelled. The space will remain open for those who wish to still come out, though the T GQ Out Mic event will not be happening.

Lois Bates was the Transgender Health Manager at Howard Brown Health Center and a longtime LGBT/ HIV advocate in the community. She was considered by many to be the "mother" of Chicago's transgender community.

November 17th, 7PM

Center on Halsted

3656 N. Halsted (at Waveland)

T Out Mic is pairing with GenderQueer Chicago to host an all together awesome open mic and spoken word event open to all. We encourage all gender variant folks, their friends, and allies, to bring a talent, thought, or rant to share. Each performer gets 5 minutes to do their thing and we may have time for encores.

All GQC events are no-cost, cta accessible, and wheelchair accessible.

Transport: EL: Redline to Addison. Bus: #8 Halsted. Street Parking.

See you there!

Fluidity: A Safe Space Discussion

"My gender expression and sense of self has changed (several times) throughout my life... maybe yours has too. Let's talk about what those processes have been like. I'm interested in how you felt, what inspired the change, how others reacted to it, etc. These shifts could be a transition, a redefinition, or a creation of something wholly new. Bring yourself and your thoughts."

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

7:00-8:15pm

Gerber/Hart Library (1107 W. Granville)

Safer space meetings are strictly closed to researchers and reporters in their professional capacities. Meetings are open to anyone else wanting to talk and think about gender! For more info, give us a shout at genderqueerchicago@gmail.com!

Got Talent? Actors Wanted!

Madsen Minax, one of the fabulous people who brought you Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Musical Performance, is seeking actors for a new film. Think you've got what it takes? Here's a message from the filmmaker:

Hey all,

I'm a trans identified artist/filmmaker currently seeking trans and gender non-conforming actors for a short experimental film project. Interests explored in the project include nonlinear transformation, dystopias, alternative kinship structures, puberties, homoerotics, nostalgia and voice. The usual suspects.

The script is composed of appropriated excerpts from Hollywood films, primarily coming of age stories, and will be compiled together in a collage-type format. Upon completion this work will screen at film festivals, and possibly some universities throughout the US and abroad.

Henceforth this production has operated with an all queer crew, and folks who are passionate about the ideas at hand.

Though the narrative is highly experimental, there is memorization required. Not likely to be more than 2 script pages per performer. There is no cash payment available, but I am open to discussion of trades of services.

On set experience, and adventure promised. No acting experience necessary, just desire to be involved. :)

The shoots will take place over one weekend in mid December 2011 and will require some travel to be determined. Your cost of food, transport and lodging (if required) will be covered.

There are 5 principle roles open. We will also need some secondary and some extras. There will be some sort of low-key audition of sorts TBD the last week of November 2011.

* Trans people of color, different abilities and young people especially welcome.

Please write to madsenwashere (at) gmail.com

www.madsenminax.com

www.riotactsfilm.com

What's in a Name? A Safer Space Discussion

Names are something that most folks can't avoid. We're assigned one at birth, people give us nicknames, some folks chose their own, and some folks prefer not to go by a name at all. How has your experiences with names been? Do you go by the name you were given or do you go by a different name or names, or do you not go by a name at all? Have issues come up in regards to your name and your gender/gender expression? Join us this week for a safer space discussion on names.

Wednesday, November 9th
7:00-8:15pm

Access Living (115 W. Chicago)

Genderqueer Chicago is an inclusive community, and all people interested in talking about gender are welcome. Researchers and reporters are forbidden from attending in their professional capacities but can e-mail organizers at genderqueerchicago@gmail.com.

T GQ Out Mic: NEXT THURSDAY!

November 17th, 7:30pm

Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted [at Waveland])

T Out Mic is pairing with GenderQueer Chicago to host an all together awesome open mic and spoken word event open to all. We encourage all gender variant folks, their friends, and allies, to bring a talent, thought, or rant to share. Each performer gets 5 minutes to do their thing and we may have time for encores.

All GQC events are no-cost, cta accessible, and wheelchair accessible.

Transport: EL: Redline to Addison. Bus: #8 Halsted. Street Parking.

See you there!

Reeling Ticket Giveaway!

Genderqueer Chicago is co-presenting three films at Reeling this year! The films are Community Action Center, Tomboy, and Names, Planes, and... James Dean and we have some tickets to give out for each of them! Email us at genderqueerchicago@gmail.com with your name for tickets (first come, first served and one per person as they are super limited).

Community Action Center - A.K. Burns and A.L. Steiner’s visually lush, hedonistic sociosexual video incorporates the erotics of a community where the personal is both political and sexual. The artists worked with performers to create complex gender and performance pieces that are both real and fantastical, set to a soundtrack of music and original compositions. This project was heavily inspired by 1970’s porn-romance-liberation films, which served as distinct portraits of the urban inhabitants, landscapes, and the body politic of a particular time and place. The work explores feminist fashion, sexual aesthetics, and an expansive view of what is defined as “sex.” 9:30PM on Friday, November 4th at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark St.) 69 minutes.

Tomboy - Laure, a ten-year-old tomboy, has just moved to a new neighborhood with her parents and little sister. She decides almost offhandedly to introduce herself to the neighborhood kids as Mikael and delves into a summer of gender subterfuge. The film vividly portrays Laure’s ambivalence towards her gender identity and the subdued glee she feels when accepted as one of the boys. Mikael becomes close to Lisa, a girl in their apartment complex, and a mutual crush develops. With the first day of school – and the discovery of her secret – rapidly approaching, Laure becomes increasingly anxious to keep hold of the happiness she finds in being Mikael. 4:30PM on Saturday, November 5th at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St.). 84 minutes.

Names, Planes, and... James Dean - Young people begin to question their identities and adults explore the intimate complications of theirs. These short films tackle gender identity, fully and sensitively addressing its complexity. 7:15PM on Sunday, November 6th at Chicago Filmmakers (5243 N. Clark St.) 81 minutes.

- Noa