Issue 6, 2014

Hello dear readers,

Last week our newsletter experienced
a slight delay, hopefully we wont forget
to send it this time We hope you
enjoyed it nonetheless, and look at it
from the bright side, the wait for the
next one was shorter!
Word of the week: Gender Identity

The word of this week is not really a word. (Its two words.)
Gender Identity is a persons own experience of their own
gender. Ones gender identity is often formed early on in life, but
can still change over time. The phenomenon where one feels
signicant discontent with the sex assigned at birth and/or the
gender roles associated with that sex is called gender
dysphoria. It is currently listed as a mental disorder in the DSM,
despite there being a signicant cry for change.
Events

This week we have two interesting events
planned for you. During Thursdays discuss-
a-something, Kayleigh will tell us about
different gender identities. We hope to see
you all at 8.30PM in Eleanor 7 to join this
intriguing lecture and maybe add your own
experiences and/or thoughts afterwards.

Friday there will once again be a meeting in
Glam. Come join us for a drink and/or dance
and/or chat. Hope to see you all there!

On a somewhat related note, PhiloCom is
having a discussion on feminism and
gender at 18.30PM in the K1 Common
Room on Thursday. (1)
Contact

www.facebook.com/LGBTQ.UCR
gaysociety@rasa.ucr.nl

Love,
Ian Snel, Kelly Roemer, Kayleigh Mathey
Queer person of the week: Gopi Shankar

Gopi Shankar is a student of American College in Madurai,
India. He is also the founder of Srishti, the colleges
genderqueer group. In India, there is a lack of awareness
about genders that are not cisgender or transgender.
There are more than 25 other genders biologically
identied and accepted through recent medical research
worldwide. But not many, even among medical fraternity,
are aware of the existence of so many genders, he says.
For this very reason, Shankar has written a book in both
English and Tamil, the ofcial language of the Indian state
of Tamil Nadu, about these different gender identities.
Writing this book in Tamil also meant that he had to
translate all the gender terminology into Tamil; because of
this, after English, Tamil is the only language that has
been given names for all the genders identied so far. His
book also includes 15 types of different sexual
orientations.
In addition, Shankar has also organised the Gender Queer
Rainbow Pride Parade in Madurai. Despite having only 25
participants, it was important because it was the rst pride
parade in India that shed some light on different gender
identities, and not just sexual orientations. However, he
feels it is necessary to understand the intersectionality of
identities. (2,3)
Trivia

In ancient Celtic societies, there were no
laws against interclass or interracial
marriages, nor were there laws against queer
relationships. Technically, these relationships
wouldnt be considered marriages, because
the denition of marriage at the time was a
couple with a child. However, if your partner
was infertile and you wanted kids, it was
completely acceptable to have sex with
someone else for the sake of reproduction
and then both of you could claim the child as
legally your own. Women also didnt have to
take their husbands name or give up their
property. (4)
Issue 6, 2014
Sources
1. It is known.
2. http://timesondia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Gender-pride-march-takes-Madurai-by-storm/articleshow/
15265053.cms?referral=PM
3. http://timesondia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Madurai-student-pens-book-on-gender-variants/articleshow/
20419621.cms?referral=PM
4. http://saltwaterandink.tumblr.com/tagged/celts