Julia Serano

A decade or two ago, trans activists would often give “Transgender 101” talks designed to introduce largely unaware audiences to our existence and life experiences. But today, virtually everybody knows something about trans people, it’s just that they differ in the extent of their knowledge and the veracity of their sources. In this talk intended for audiences of all backgrounds, Julia will provide an overview of trans people and perspectives past and present, discuss the unconscious mindsets that shape how trans people are perceived and (mis)interpreted, and debunk some of the disinformation that has become prevalent during the current anti-trans backlash.

As human beings, we tend to be focused on (and sometimes become fascinated or concerned by) how other people “do” their genders. Yet we hardly ever take a moment to consider how we see and interpret these facets of people. With thoughtfulness, sharp wit, and a sense of humor, Julia draws on her own personal experiences having been perceived as female and male at different points in her life in order to highlight the unconscious assumptions, expectations, and meanings that shape how we view other people’s genders.

Over the last century, social justice activism has played a crucial role in challenging prejudice and promoting equity for women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized groups. While most of us profess support for these past accomplishments, we may nevertheless resist newer expressions of social justice activism or dismiss them as mere “identity politics” or “political correctness.” Striving to generate more light than heat, and to remain accessible to activists and non-activists alike, Julia explores this discrepancy, explaining how prejudice works, the purpose of social justice activism, and why some expressions of activism may be unnecessarily exclusive, inflexible, or counterproductive.

Why do people tend to view holding hands or chaste kissing as “sexual” when it occurs in a same-sex couple but not in a heterosexual one? Why do people presume that bisexuals are attracted to “anything that moves” or that trans women must transition for sexual reasons (e.g., to “prey” on women in public restrooms or to “deceive” straight men into sleeping with them)? Why are gay teachers plagued by baseless yet relentless accusations that they are “grooming,” “recruiting,” or “sexualizing” children? In this talk, Julia explains why LGBTQIA+ people are especially vulnerable to these sorts of hypersexualized stereotypes, and how they are inexorably linked to the sexualization faced by women and other marginalized groups.

As a feminist, biologist, and trans woman, Julia has a unique perspective on femininity. In this talk, she moves beyond questions of “nature vs. nurture,” and challenges the popular tendency in our culture to denigrate feminine gender expression. In addition to critiquing both sexist and certain feminist interpretations of femininity, Julia offers strategies for all of us to overcome these pervasive anti-feminine sentiments.