Queer Stories Across Boarders

Queer Resistance and Joy: A Global Conversation

Georgie Williams uncovers the vibrant tapestry of queer relationships and identities, challenging conventional labels and exploring the impacts of societal norms across cultures.

In this stirring installment of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Georgie Williams to share "Queer Stories Across Borders", an enlightening discussion on the tapestry of queer relationships and identities that transcend societal norms. Georgie opens up about how they and their partner eschew traditional labels within their relationship, fostering a dynamic where personal freedom reigns over adhering to gendered roles. They also touch upon the broader implications of gender boxes on personal identities, addressing the limitations these constructs place on our understanding of self and others. Joanne and Georgie conclude by reminding listeners that embracing all aspects of diversity is not only about kindness but a fundamental aspect of humanity, inviting the audience to engage further by subscribing to the podcast and continuing this crucial conversation about inclusion.

Georgie is an eloquent advocate for gender and sexuality diversity, with a diligent focus on research. Beginning their "SlashQueer" project in 2019, Georgie embarked on a journey to construct an oral histories archive, ensuring these personal narratives are documented with veracity and shared widely. Their fieldwork has taken them across multiple continents - exploring diverse cultural perceptions of gender and sexuality from the USA to South Africa. Through their work, Georgie has illuminated the breadth and complexity of human identity, providing resources that assist individuals in articulating their own stories. Their astute observations delve into the societal pressures that hinder the exploration of personal gender and sexuality, highlighting the need for representation and recognition within not just personal spheres, but also crucial services like healthcare.

The dialogue extends into a rich exploration of linguistic self-definition within the LGBTQ+ community, with Georgie expressing preference for the term 'queer' as it defies the confinement of stringent descriptions. They graciously share their insights on navigating pronoun usage, advocating for respect and effort in this sphere, while recounting personal transitions and their impacts upon relationships. Joanne and Georgie's discussion is enlivened with humour as they talk about nonbinary "superpowers", yet they don't shy away from the profound, addressing the policing of bodies and the intersectionality of trans issues with healthcare accessibility.

In conclusion, Joanne and Georgie's frank and heartfelt exchange challenges listeners to understand the importance of validating and affirming queer identities across borders. The episode underscores the value of such narratives in forging a world that is more accepting and inclusive for everyone.

The key takeaway from this episode lies in the profound notion that our humanity is inherently diverse, and that this diversity enriches our collective existence. For those looking to deepen their understanding of queer identities and embrace the spectrum of human experience, this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast is a compelling listen.

 

Published: 16.05.2024 Recorded: 22.02.2024 Duration: 0:52:58

 

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Clips and Highlights

Making Education Accessible: “I didn’t want people to have to pay to learn about these things in the way that I’d learned about many of these communities in a lecture hall with a lot of student loans to show for it.”

— Georgie Williams [00:03:07 → 00:03:17]

Exploring Gender and Sexuality Diversity: “you can’t be an expert in the human experience.”

— Georgie Williams [00:05:10 → 00:05:12]

Redefining Normalcy in Historical Context: “the exploration of human behaviour through these evolutionary lenses, has often caused harm and caused significant misunderstanding with regards to what is quote unquote normal with regards to human behaviour and socialisation.”

— Georgie Williams [00:07:44 → 00:07:59]

Gender Policing and Identity: “We are encouraged to regulate one another’s behaviour, because if we align with that, it creates this social currency. We are favoured by our peers, we are given advantages that other people aren’t, as long as we perform correctly within the box assigned to us.”

— Georgie Williams [00:10:59 → 00:11:07]

Gender Identity and Pronouns: “Yes, if you’ve noticed that my pronouns have changed from they she he to they them, I want you to know that it’s because I’ve revoked the other pronouns until you learn how to play nicely with them, that actually, at the end of the day, my identity is a very… nuanced, non prescriptive thing.”

— Georgie Williams [00:21:18 → 00:21:34]

Trans Healthcare Advocacy: “if people can’t tell that you’re trans, you’re less likely to get attacked on the street, like, you’re less likely to face employment discrimination, you’re less likely to be made to feel like a second class citizen.”

— Georgie Williams [00:28:23 → 00:28:38]

Inclusion and Cognitive Biases: “I mean, this is unconscious bias that we’re contending with is so many of us were taught from a young age that this is what a respectable, normal person looks like. And if they deviate in x, y or z ways, then there’s something innately wrong with them.”

— Georgie Williams [00:30:51 → 00:31:07]

Inclusive Conversations on Disability: “Your sense of self can absolutely change, but you’re still absolutely a human being.”

— Georgie Williams [00:32:26 → 00:32:30]

Trans Health Discrimination: “There was even an excerpt from a trans woman talking about how I believe she had been permitted treatment because the doctor said that as a heterosexual man, he felt an emotional response to her and therefore that must make her a woman, that it was down to terms of this doctor’s attraction to her, which is outrageous.”

— Georgie Williams [00:35:21 → 00:35:44]

Understanding Queer Identity Development: “I think that that is such a complex question, because for me, that’s like saying, at what point in your adulthood do you know that you want kids or that you’d be capable of having a child and raising them properly?”

— Georgie Williams [00:37:43 → 00:37:59]

Definition of Terms Used

Gender Binary

• Definition: The gender binary is a classification system that recognizes only two distinct and opposite genders, male and female, based on biological and physiological characteristics.
• Relevance: The gender binary is a central concept in discussions about gender diversity because it often excludes and invalidates non-binary, genderqueer, and gender-fluid identities that do not fit within these narrow categories.
• Examples: Gendered bathrooms, sports categorized strictly by male/female, and binary selections on legal documents.
• Related Terms: Non-binary, Genderqueer, Cisgender, Transgender
  Common Misconceptions: A common misconception is that biological sex and gender binary are the same, but gender encompasses a broader spectrum of identities beyond biological characteristics.

Queer

• Definition: Queer is an umbrella term for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or not cisgender. Originally a pejorative term, it has been reclaimed by some LGBTQ+ people to describe a unique personal identity that challenges traditional norms.
• Relevance: Queer is often used to express fluid identities and orientations, promoting a blur in the lines that define gender and sexuality hence playing a significant role in conversations about inclusivity and diversity.
• Examples: An individual who does not subscribe to conventional sexual orientations might identify as queer.
• Related Terms: LGBTQ+, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
  Common Misconceptions: There’s sometimes a belief that “queer” is a negative or derogatory term; while it was historically used as a slur, many in the LGBTQ+ community have reclaimed it proudly.

Cognitive Bias

• Definition: Cognitive bias refers to systematic patterns of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment, whereby inferences about other people and situations may be drawn in an illogical fashion.
• Relevance: Understanding cognitive bias is vital when discussing diversity and inclusion as it affects how individuals perceive those from different communities, including the LGBTQ+, and can lead to discrimination and unconscious bias.
• Examples: Assuming a person’s gender based on their appearance or perpetuating stereotypes about a certain group.
• Related Terms: Unconscious Bias, Stereotyping, Prejudice
  Common Misconceptions: It’s often misunderstood that cognitive biases are easy to recognize and overcome; however, they are innate and deeply rooted in human psychology and typically require conscious effort and education to change.

Parasitic Symbiosis

• Definition: Parasitic symbiosis is a non-scientific metaphor used by Georgie Williams to describe the relationship between strict gender binaries and the broader spectrum of gender identities, implying that the former leeches off the latter by enforcing conformity and limiting diverse expression.
• Relevance: By using this term, Georgie Williams critiques how rigid gender norms can suppress and deprive Non-binary identities of recognition and visibility.
• Examples: Society penalizing individuals who do not conform to traditional male or female dress codes, or the expectation that everyone must identify within these two categories.
• Related Terms: Gender Conformity, Non-binary, Gender Norms
  Common Misconceptions: The metaphor may be incorrectly interpreted as implying a naturally occurring biological relationship rather than a complex social dynamic driven by cultural and societal pressures.

Trans Healthcare

• Definition: Trans healthcare encompasses medical services, procedures, and support specifically catering to transgender individuals, including hormone replacement therapy, gender-affirming surgeries, and mental health services.
• Relevance: Trans healthcare is a crucial topic within conversations about inclusion as it directly impacts the well-being and quality of life for trans people; access to appropriate healthcare is a fundamental human right that is often denied or hindered for this group.
• Examples: A trans man seeking testosterone therapy or a trans woman undergoing laser hair removal as part of her transition.
• Related Terms: Gender Dysphoria, Transitioning, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Gender Affirmation Surgery
  Common Misconceptions: A misunderstanding may be that trans healthcare is elective or cosmetic, but for many trans people, these treatments are essential for their mental health and for living a life aligned with their true gender identity.

Please connect with our hosts and guests, why not make contact..?

Brought to you by your host

Joanne Lockwood SEE Change Happen

A huge thank you to our wonderful guest

Georgie Williams /Queer