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Discurso de Nicholas Sakurai, Coordinador de Programas para el Centro de Recursos en American University en Washington D. C. dictada en el marco de la conferencia de prensa del Segundo Simposio Queer Ciudad de México 14 de marzo de 2008: Buenos días y
gracias a Enkidu, Lars y Agustin por su inspiración y la invitación de
hablar hoy día. Yo soy Nicholas Sakurai. Soy el Coordinador de
Programas para el Centro de Recursos en American University en
Washington D. C. para la comunidad Gay, Lesbiana, Bisexual, Transgenero
y Solidarios (GLBTA Resource Center). Todavía estoy aprendiendo español
y es lo peor... Entonces, voy a hablar en inglés. I have been an activist in the
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) movement in the United
States for the past ten years. For the past five years, I have had the
privilege of working as a full-time professional whose job is to support
the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities
in higher education. My masters degree is in International Training
& Education, with a concentration in Social Justice Movement
Building. I am visiting Mexico City with
the Director of our Center, Sara Bendoraitis, and with a delegation of
eight students from American University who are led by Emily Willard. Many college students in the
U. S. spend their spring break from classes by visiting their families,
catching up on homework, or going on vacation. Instead of taking a
vacation, our delegation of students decided to educate themselves about
social justice, sexual diversity, and gender identity in Mexico City,
and to begin to look for ways to build solidarity for social justice
between U. S. communities and Mexican communities. Our goal is to learn and bring
new tools home that will help us engage in social justice work. Already,
we have learned so many things that we will take with us for the rest of
our lives. At the same time, we hope to share our experiences and any
information that may benefit movements for sexual and gender diversity
in Mexico. One thing that I would like to
share with you today is the critical value that can be gained by funding
and institutionalizing queer studies in universities. Events such as
Enkidu’s Queer Studies Symposium make a significant difference in
making the world a better place. The funding and
institutionalization of queer studies, LGBT studies, or sexuality/gender
studies in academy is both a strategy for improving society and a way
for universities to remain competitive in the academic marketplace.
Queer studies, when properly funded, plays two critical roles –
research and education. Funding queer research has two
key effects – First, it helps our societies to acknowledge and
understand social issues, and to create effective solutions to these
costly social problems such as discrimination and the abuses of human
rights. Second, theoretical and practical research in queer studies
contributes to bringing new, challenging, and important ideas into other
areas of academia. For example, queer theory, including its critiques
and contributions by people in the international community, transgender
people, and people of color, have had an important social theory and in
broader academic circles. The other equally important
aspect of a queer studies program is education. More and more, our
governments and employers in both the U. S. and Mexico are preaching
about inclusion and equality, but they often do not have the expertise
to enact an inclusive environment. In order to enact inclusion, we must
be preparing members of our society to understand the most current
research and best practices with regards to queer issues, human rights,
and social theory. In the United States, there
are over thirty colleges that offer an official undergraduate minor in
LGBT studies. And many more colleges offer queer studies courses. This
is especially strong in California where half of the prestigious
University of California schools have a queer studies of LGBT studies
degree. The building block for an LGBT or queer studies program begins
by offering and regularizing queer studies courses. This is then
followed by creating an academic minor, creating an academic major, and
developing a graduate program. Offering fellowships for students and
academics to engage in queer studies is another great way to build a
more inclusive and progressive academic environment. Establishing well-funded queer
studies programs also sets the norm that it is legitimate to study queer
topics, and provides a supportive environment for students and academics
who wish to understand queer culture and to further human rights and the
inclusion of diverse populations in all aspects of a healthy society.
People of diverse sexual and gender identities have a right to be
included in education, in our histories, and in our curricula. Without
this inclusion, we are disempowered. Queer studies also contributes to
furthering the significance of an institution’s outputs, its public
and international recognition, and ultimately –as your generations
demand more diverse and inclusive course offerings – the
competitiveness with other institutions in attracting the best faculty,
staff, and students. I hope that our delegation’s
presence today sets an example for both Mexican and U. S. institutions
of higher education –that it is important to learn and teach about
sexual and gender diversity, and to do so in both domestic and
international contexts of friendship and solidarity. |
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El domingo 23 de marzo, las primeras tres sesiones de la conferencia y la mesa de registro para delegados y observadores al Simposio tendrá lugar en el auditorio del Hotel Catedral (Donceles # 95, Col. Centro -justo a una cuadra, atrás de la Catedral Metropolitana de Ciudad de México), el extraoficial Hotel de la Conferencia para el Segundo Simposio de Pascua de Estudios Queer. En la sesión de registro en el Hotel Catedral, los delegados y los observadores recibirán el gafete que les acreditará como parte del II Simposio de Estudios Queer.
La apertura oficial, con el mensaje de bienvenida estará a cargo de Carmen B. López-Portillo Romano la Rectora de la Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, el día 24 de marzo a las 10:00 Hrs.
Desde el 24 y hasta el 29 de marzo, todas las actividades de la conferencia tendrán lugar en la Universidad (en Foro R-38, Campus Regina, que está a una cuadra del Campus Izazaga pasando Isabel La Católica. . » About the conference location and how to get there
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