黑料网

Michigan Community College Gender & Sexuality Conference

Resilience: Art, Magic & Joy

Resilience (noun):
How we survive, adapt, and do our best to thrive,
be that living a cozy life, leading the charge for change, or balancing both.

Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. | Washtenaw Community College


黑料网 Gender and Sexuality Conference Logo

Michigan Community College Gender & Sexuality Conference (MCCGSC) is an event for ALL students, faculty, and staff from Michigan community colleges. We celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture, foster academic success, and build community.


Registration is open! In-person tickets are free for students and $20 for faculty, staff, and community members. Virtual tickets are free for everyone.

If you have any questions about the conference, please contact the MCCGSC Planning Committee at [email protected].


Agenda

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Welcome

ML 100 (Lobby)
10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Keynote: "Beyond the Spotlight: Drag, Resilience, and Joy"

This panel of gender-diverse drag performers will discuss their art and its impact on them and their communities. They will explore ideas of belonging, resilience, magic, joy, and navigating the world around them.

Drag King Rebellion was first organized in 2003 and A-Train was one of the original members. From the inception, DKR was focused on political issues, gender euphoria and breaking conventional boundaries. DKR has had a revolving cast of performers and thus has evolved, but always operating as a collective with shared visions. A-Train has been with the gender performance troupe from the beginnings in an MSU dorm basement to the main stage at Motor City Pride. Whether performing solo or with the group, A-Train brings his own personal brand of gender artistry, sexiness and humor to each show.

Drag King Rebellion was first organized in 2003. From the inception, DKR was focused on political issues, gender euphoria and breaking conventional boundaries. DKR has had a revolving cast of performers and thus has evolved, but always operating as a collective with shared visions. Freddie Cougar joined the group officially in 2010, however she managed to make a cameo appearance six months prior, dancing her way on stage to Prince's "Let's Go Crazy." Freddie is known for her enthusiastic dancing, one-of-a-kind prop making skills and her hottest of hot pants. Whether solo or in a group number she sparkles like glitter on the stage.

Drag King Rebellion was first organized in 2003. From the inception, DKR was focused on political issues, gender euphoria and breaking conventional boundaries. DKR has had a revolving cast of performers and thus has evolved, but always operating as a collective with shared visions. GQ joined DKR in 2010 and during his first week in the group, he helped to create a rainbow float for the parade in Lansing for Michigan Pride. GQ captivates the audience with his dance moves and charm. His performance resume includes everything from Katy Perry to Nas to Beyonce to NSync, but one of his best performances of all-time can be summarized by the phrase "ribbon dancing."

ML 100 (Lobby)
11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Break

Session 1: Lightning Talks

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

That Trick Never Works

Gracie Hand

Gracie Hand is currently a student at Eastern Michigan University and graduating in April 2025. They are an English major with a Linguistics concentration, along with a minor in Women's & Gender Studies. They aspire to become an essayist and critique topics relating to culture, language arts, feminism, and queer theory. They are planning to apply for my doctorate in either WGST or English in Fall 2025.

By creating my zine, 鈥淭hat Trick Never Works,鈥 I intended to highlight the different ways a queer person can 鈥渃ome out鈥 and how their identity interacts with their desire or hesitance to 鈥渃ome out.鈥 I used this research 鈥 developed through interviews, poetry, educational texts/narratives made by/involving queer individuals 鈥 for my own understanding but also to share my friends鈥 experiences.

ML 105

Queer Censorship: Evaluating Institutional Trust

juniper wolfenbarger

Juniper Wolfenbarger (they/them) is a genderqueer artist based in Ypsilanti, MI. In 2017, they began working with hand embroidery techniques to celebrate their lifelong adoration of fiber practices they were surrounded by in their youth. In addition, they are a skilled illustrator and painter, and enjoy working with various media to stay explorative in their art practice. They share their passions through teaching workshops and sharing their art through exhibitions and online.

This lightning talk will cover recent governmental pushes to censor marginalized voices and creativity, and institutional responses from museums, universities, and institutions who receive government funding. I will discuss options for navigating this evolving landscape as a creative, and pose questions to re-evaluate our connection to institutions. We will also discuss alternative options when seeking ethical platforms for our art.

ML 105

My Gender Is Two Spirit / Gender Transitions Are Sacred (diptych)

A mini artist talk about one specific work, how it relates to the theme, why it was made, and why it鈥檚 important that work by living transgender artists be platformed and seen by as many eyes possible. This cyanotype talks about my relationship to gender as an Anishinaabe person living under the efforts of the current political administration to erase and remove transgender people from public life.

ML 105

Queer Joy & Resilience in Cozy Fantasy and Fanfiction

brittany kelley

Brittany Kelley (she/they) is an adjunct faculty member in the English Department at Oakland Community College鈥檚 Auburn Hills Campus, where she teaches composition courses, advises the Queer Student Alliance, and serves on the LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee. She also works in the Student Life and Leadership office at Macomb Community College鈥檚 Center Campus and advises their Gender Sexuality Alliance. As a queer, neurodivergent woman who identifies as asexual and aromantic, Brittany is passionate about fostering diverse representation, validation, community, and sense of belonging both in the classroom and in society as a whole.

This presentation will explore how queer representation in fanfiction and cozy fantasy books fosters resilience and joy within the LGBTQIA+ community. By focusing on narratives that center queer joy, rather than solely on struggle, these genres create spaces of affirmation, hope, and community. Attendees will gain insight into the power of inclusive storytelling and how it contributes to personal and collective resilience.

ML 121

Secret Comfort in Plain Sight

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Katie Grossman is a ceramics artist from Ann Arbor, MI going to Washtenaw Community College for an associates in art. They hope to make meaningful and fun ceramic pieces that makes the audience think as well as bring them joy and often laughter.

Symbolism has been used for queer people to find each other throughout history. Things that tell other queer people I am here and you are not alone. One of the most often used symbols were flowers. Flowers are also often used in decorative plates and serving dishes in many homes. By combining both the symbolism, the meanings, and the color of these flowers I hope to create something that to your average person without the knowledge of these symbols just sees a pretty decorative plate but to others can give a sense of being seen and comfort knowing that they are not alone.

ML 121

Self/No-self: Detransition and shifting identity

paige durr

Paige Durr is a student of Washtenaw Community College who is currently working towards earning her BFA. Her work explores contradictions, contrasting ideas, and questioning the nature of reality as it pertains to personal narratives and one's concept of self. She is influenced by personal experiences relating to shifting identity, Zen Buddhism, and the interconnectedness of human beings.

A brief insight into my experience and self-concept being challenged by my detransition - explored through the concepts, feelings, and life influences that provided the background for a select few pieces of artwork I created.

ML 121

Fighting Through Love And War

mia richards

I am a student of Washtenaw Community College completing my general educations before I transfer to a four year institution. I am also a local author of Brighton and love to read and write in my free time.

Fighting Through Love and War is a historical fiction and romance 2022 novel by independent author, T.G. Richards. This novel takes place during World War One. Frieda Joyce is a non binary private that enlists after the tragic passing of her father. While navigating the global conflict of the War that tears their world in two, they learn the art of survival, the importance of love, and the strength that comes with embracing one鈥檚 identity. Fighting Through Love and War discusses LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences, and mental with its diverse cast of characters.

ML 128

Queers in Comics

jessica hale

Jessica Hale is a Faculty member in the Department of English and College Readiness at Washtenaw Community College.

The queering of comics in the U.S. began in the 1960s and 1970s as a part of the Underground Comix movement. Today, mainstream comics increasingly feature queer characters in meaningful and beautiful ways. Join this session and engage with comics as Queer Spaces!

ML 128

Divine Transformations: From the Personal to the Collective in Queer Art

danielle owensby

Danielle "deo" Owensby (she/they) is an artist and educator whose practice explores memory, trauma, loss, and nostalgia through photography, installation, performance, and collage. Their work has been exhibited internationally, including at venues such as the Knockdown Center (NY), Melbourne Art Center (Australia), and the Grand Rapids Art Museum (MI). Deo has taught across various levels, from K-12 to community colleges, with a focus on culturally responsive pedagogy and using photography as a tool for empowerment. Currently, they teach at Washtenaw Community College and Schoolcraft College and serve as the editor of The Jade Plant Project, a publication dedicated to sharing the stories of survivors of sexual violence.

"Divine Transformations: From the Personal to the Collective in Queer Art" examines how my artistic journey has evolved from creating personal works that process my own queer identity to engaging in collaborative projects that celebrate the queer community. Starting with "My Divine Comedy," where I explored my experiences as a closeted queer person raised in a religious environment, my work gradually shifted toward connection and collaboration. The installation "Bedroom Divine: Reclamation Be Thy Name," created during my Womxnhouse residency, acted as a turning point, where I moved from introspective art to creating work that resonated with others, using church ephemera from the late 90s and early 2000s. This led to "Divinity in Queerness," a portrait series where I photographed LGBTQ+ individuals in their bedrooms, sanctifying their reclaimed sexual identities with holographic halos as a symbol of empowerment and transformation.

ML 128

Examining the Intersection of Deafness and Queerness in Sex Education

spencer lyke

Spencer Lyke is an undergraduate student at Siena Heights University majoring in Community and Human Services who hopes to work with queer and disabled communities once they gain their MSW and become a 鈥榞rown-up鈥. They are intersex, Deaf, disabled, and co-chair of Monroe County Community College鈥檚 Gender & Sexuality Alliance back at home.

hailey grabowski

Hailey Grabowski is an undergraduate student at the University of Michigan majoring in psychology and women鈥檚 and gender studies. They focus their research in feminist psychology and plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the near future. Hailey has worked in queer sex education advocacy for the past two years as a co-facilitator for Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health鈥檚 (MOASH) Michigan Youth Sexual Health for Adolescents Rooted in Equity (MYSHARE) Youth Advocacy Council (YAC).

Our research seeks to examine the current gaps in queer Deaf Sex Education and presents potential routes for creating accessible sex education for the queer Deaf community. Deaf students often face barriers in accessing sex education that can be attributed to inaccessibility, isolation from peers and/or community resources, and de-centering Deaf experiences and cultural knowledge in educational settings.

ML 130
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

ML 100 (Lobby)

Session 2: Workshop

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Loving Yourself Is the Most Radical Thing You Can Do

latitude brown

Latitude Brown is a second-year master's student at the University of Michigan school of Information, studying library science & digital curation. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in Children's Literature from Eastern Michigan University and an Associate of Science in Computer Science from Washtenaw Community College. They live with their best friend and one black cat named Burton. They are writing a novel in their free time, and they enjoy boba, fancy coffee, and ginger candy.

Are you regularly despairing re: the capitalist hellscape we all live in? Is looking at your phone not making you feel better? Solve all of your problems with this one simple trick that the oligarchy doesn't want you to know: loving yourself is the most radical thing you can do. But how do you make that happen? Let's learn about it together. (Bring a notebook & writing utensil if you remember).

ML 105

Queer Retellings: Reclaiming Literary Canon

maddox arnold

Maddox Arnold is a Spanish instructor at 黑料网, with a research interest in queer representation in Spanish-language literature and cinema. He is also an author of queer speculative fiction, and he leads monthly writing workshops with a group of fellow writers. When he isn't teaching or writing, he enjoys baking and hiking the trails of Southeast Michigan.

This creative writing workshop will focus on queer retellings of classic stories and fairy tales. The workshop will begin with a discussion about the definition and significance of queer retellings, along with popular examples. You will then have the opportunity to develop your own queer retelling of your favorite classic tale, with the option to share your creation with fellow participants at the end.

ML 121

Queer Vision Mini Collage Workshop

kaitlyn redies

I go to 黑料网 for Fine Arts. I hope to work in a creative field and I enjoy crafting and teaching craft workshops, collage, and fiber arts.

Make and take a mini collage of your personal vision of queer magic and joy! Bring any materials you would like to use, but all supplies will be provided. Stickers, cutouts, stamps, paper, etc. will be available.

ML 128

Transformative Art: Action & Activism

gianna mask

Gianna is a junior at U of M-Flint, working towards her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. She enjoys exploring different art media and advocating for mental health/social justice. Additionally, she serves as a NASPA-Certified Peer Educator at UM-Flint's Center for Gender & Sexuality; where the voices of marginalized identities are amplified.

Join us for a workshop where we鈥檒l dive into the world of queer art. Let's explore how we can respond by creating art; and how this can be a form of action & activism for marginalized identities. To start your art journey, we'll learn how to make zines.

ML 130

Collective Creating: Zine Making As Resistance

brie niikora

Brie Nikora is a Social Justice Educator and Activist. They hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and are a current Master level student of Social Work (MSW) at Eastern Michigan University. As the Outreach and Pridezone Coordinator with Ozone House, Brie is dedicated to reminding those of us within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to find pride in our identities while advocating for our community to not only accept, but to celebrate the strength of intersectional diversity. With a decade of work behind their belt, they continue to be a radical and relatable advocate for both individual and community wellness. Brie鈥檚 passion is rooted in their desire to subvert systems of disenfranchisement and establish equity for all beings.

Resilience is survival. Resistance is creation. In this hands-on session, we鈥檒l channel both by building a collective zine鈥攐ne page at a time. Through writing, collage, and raw expression, we鈥檒l define resilience on our own terms and turn our struggles, joy, and rebellion into art. No rules, no perfection鈥攋ust a space to create, connect, and resist.

ML 100 (Lobby)
1:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Break

Session 3

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Trans Narratives & Video Games

A presentation on trans narratives as they've appeared in video games, and how they've changed over time. Additionally, it looks at how video games compared to other forms of media, and the potential influences from film and television.
aleksandra denryter

Aleksandra is a liberal arts student, with the goal of working in international relations. She currently is the vice president for Outspace, 黑料网鈥檚 queer club. As a trans woman, she鈥檚 concerned with the well being of the trans community, as well as how they鈥檙e talked about and portrayed. Her passions include writing, history, and liminal spaces.

ML 105

Let鈥檚 Have a Ball: The Legacy of Ballroom Culture

jae delidow

My name is Jae Delidow (they/them) and I am the Co-President of the Queer Student Alliance at Oakland Community College. I am a Sophomore majoring in Library Services and Technology. My career goal is to raise awareness about underrepresented issues and provide access to necessary resources for all communities.

Exploring the vast, vibrant history of Ballroom Culture and its underground roots, focusing on its origins in the Harlem Ballroom scene, highlighting its evolution in the LGBTQ+ community, and putting a spotlight on its Black and Latine origins.

ML 121

Tabletop Role-Play as a Gender-Affirming Practice

emma wuetrich

Emma Mentley Wuetrich (she/they) is the Coordinator of the LGBT Resource Center at Eastern Michigan University. She has directed LGBT advocacy programs at Marquette University, Ball State University, and Clarke University.

I will share my experience to in presenting accessible tabletop role-play opportunities (and transparently, mostly DnD 5e) to engage first-time players to experienced pros in efforts for practice in gender-affirming glimmers.

ML 128

K.U.N.T. (Korean Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent)

josh noud

Josh is a social work student with aspirations to be an adolescent/teen therapist. He is a former President of Washtenaw Community College鈥檚 queer club, Outspace+. As a queer Korean-American, he strives for inclusion and diversity in queer spaces. His passions include wiener dogs, Pokemon, and all mediums of artistic expression.

This presentation explores the history of K-Pop in the United States and how it's expanded into a worldwide phenomenon. After exploring the history, we will discuss the impact of the queer community on the expansion of the K-Pop genre and how our influence can be expanded into other aspects of our societies.

ML 130
2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Break

Session 4

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Artist Talks

The Magic of Being: Queer artists Kathrine Bullock, Jamie John, and Juniper Wolfenburger share their experiences through the visual arts.

ML 100 (Lobby)

Open Mic

Come share your truth! Be that poetry, a call to action, dance, a story, or anything else, this is your space!

ML 150
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Send Off / Raffle Prizes

ML 100 (Lobby)
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Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors!

  • UM-Dearborn College of Education, Health and Human Services
  • EMU LGBT Resource Center
  • UM Marsal Family School of Education
  • Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health
  • Lansing Area AIDS Network
  • Corner Health
  • Our House
  • Ann Arbor YMCA
  • Booksweet
  • EMU Women and Gender Studies Department
  • OutSpace
  • Oakland Community College Queer Student Alliance

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