PSCI 131
Global Queer Politics and Theory Spring 2017
Division II
Cross-listed WGSS 131
This is not the current course catalog

In this course we explore, in a global context, the politics and theories of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, queer, and two-spirit persons. Despite stunning recent developments in the US and Western Europe regarding the rights, visibility and security of gays and lesbians, from a global perspective matters look quite different. New laws criminalizing homosexuality have been enacted in India and Nigeria. Transnational activism against such laws is slandered as neo-colonial even as India’s legislation, for example, revives forms of criminalization first imposed by the British Empire. In the US itself, the advance of marriage equality may be an outlier: legislation against employment discrimination has stalled at the federal level and in most states. We analyze these and related issues, including those confronted by queers of color and indigenous two-spirit, third and fourth gender persons, using the tools of political theory.