Here and Queer: The Short List

At the heart of just about any agenda is a to-do list. In honor of S&F Online’s New Queer Agendaissue, here’s a “to-read-and-watch” list of just a few sources that document contemporary queer political perspectives. The titles draw on archives of the past, experiences of the present, and anticipations of the future. You can explore many of these online, or by visiting the Barnard Libraryand its world-renowned Zine Collection.

Of course, we’re always eager to get recommendations for new materials. Where else do you look for signs of a new queer agenda?

Articles

The Queer Politics of Migration: Reflections on ‘Illegality’ and Incorrigibility 
by Nicholas De Genova

Tracing anti-assimilationist narratives in queer and migrant led movements, this essay examines resistance to state power, the pitfalls of assimilationism, the critique of rights-based discourse, and the possibility of a “robust politics of anti-identity.”

Gay Rights with a Side of Apartheid
by Nada Elia

Drawing parallels between settler colonial histories of both the United States and Israel, this article examines the deployment of purportedly gay-friendly rhetoric by colonial powers eager to justify apartheid and occupation, in counterpoint to the anti-imperialist politics of contemporary queer Palestinian activism.

Books

Make Your Own History: Documenting Feminist and Queer Activism in the 21st Century
eds. Lyz Bly and Kelly Wooten

Librarians, activists, and scholars whose work engages the history of feminist and queer social movements all feature in this collection. Contributors address the unique qualities inherent in
documenting contemporary activism, which is no longer fixed to stable “headquarters,” but instead finds expression in a wide range of digital and print media sources. Topics visit the theoretical alongside the material: online communities, “third wave” feminism/youth and queer cultures/subcultures; zines; activists as cultural workers; and digital archives, among others. Continue reading →