Pedagogies of brown lgbtq

BY HONEY CARANZO

Students and faculty gathered together to listen to an interactive discussion regarding the pedagogies of the brown LGBTQ community. 

The event was presented by OU’s Program Advisory Board, Center for Social Justice, Women's Outreach, Student Life and Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. They served free cookies and drinks during the event. It was held October 9 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Regents room at the Oklahoma Memorial Union.

This was the first event held at OU regarding brown LGBTQ communities. “With the attacks on ethnic studies, Latinos, and LGQTQ communities it was a good way to have a discussion on how it’s important to have these discussions,” said Velazquez.

The speaker, Dr. Richard T. Rodriguez, graduated from the University of California at Berkley. Dr. Rodriquez spoke on the pedagogies of brown queers. Dr. Rodriguez divulged his background and dealings with his sexuality. During his lecture, Dr. Rodriguez examined films regarding LGBTQ hispanic latinos and how to be aware of la joteria (queer people) in the classrooms. “We still have a long way to go not only in offering so called positive images of LGBTQ people but also offering an array of images that do justice to the diversity to the LGBTQ population,” said Dr. Rodriguez. 

Freshman Carina Queiroz came to the event to support her uncle, Dr. Rodriguez. Queiroz commented “how different it is for brown society and white society and how there is a rift.” 

This event is one of many held during OU’s Hispanic Heritage month.