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The Daily OrangePoet, gay supporter Minnie-Bruce Pratt teaches 2 courses this fall
By Nicky Corbett
Posted: 9/1/05, 10:51 PM EST Section: News
Students hoping to add a possible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender studies minor to their degree now have two more LGBT-related courses they can choose from this fall.
Poet and gay activist Minnie-Bruce Pratt was granted a joint-senior appointment to the writing and women's studies programs in June, said Linda Alcoff, director of the women's studies program.
Pratt, whose work has been anthologized and made required reading for women's studies programs across the country, is teaching two courses this fall while working on the LGBT Program Initiative.
"She's very well-known nationally and internationally as a writer and a theorist of intersectionality," Alcoff said.
"Intersectionality" is the analysis of the connections between forms of identity, such as race and gender, Alcoff said. In her writing, Pratt explores her identity as both a white woman and as a lesbian in the South.
Pratt, whose renewable contract allows for a three-year stay, is only teaching full-time this fall, but will teach Maymester courses in the spring.
"We're hoping to have her as long as she wants to stay," Alcoff said.
Margaret Himley, director of the writing program, said she heard transgender activist Leslie Feinberg lecture last fall at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Feinburg, who spoke at the Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center Rainbow Banquet two years ago, is Pratt's partner. He told Himley Pratt was looking for a different job.
Faculty from the writing program, women's studies and LGBT Resource Center staff worked to bring Pratt to SU for a week to give a lecture, meet students and talk with the LGBT community in the hopes of finding her a job at SU, Himley said. After her speech, Pratt shared a lunch at the LGBT Center with other graduate and undergraduate students.
The university eventually extended an invitation for Pratt to work at SU.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole campus," Himley said. "It brings someone who is very knowledgeable and very articulate about sexuality and gender, as well as race."
Poet and gay activist Minnie-Bruce Pratt was granted a joint-senior appointment to the writing and women's studies programs in June, said Linda Alcoff, director of the women's studies program.
Pratt, whose work has been anthologized and made required reading for women's studies programs across the country, is teaching two courses this fall while working on the LGBT Program Initiative.
"She's very well-known nationally and internationally as a writer and a theorist of intersectionality," Alcoff said.
"Intersectionality" is the analysis of the connections between forms of identity, such as race and gender, Alcoff said. In her writing, Pratt explores her identity as both a white woman and as a lesbian in the South.
Pratt, whose renewable contract allows for a three-year stay, is only teaching full-time this fall, but will teach Maymester courses in the spring.
"We're hoping to have her as long as she wants to stay," Alcoff said.
Margaret Himley, director of the writing program, said she heard transgender activist Leslie Feinberg lecture last fall at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Feinburg, who spoke at the Syracuse University LGBT Resource Center Rainbow Banquet two years ago, is Pratt's partner. He told Himley Pratt was looking for a different job.
Faculty from the writing program, women's studies and LGBT Resource Center staff worked to bring Pratt to SU for a week to give a lecture, meet students and talk with the LGBT community in the hopes of finding her a job at SU, Himley said. After her speech, Pratt shared a lunch at the LGBT Center with other graduate and undergraduate students.
The university eventually extended an invitation for Pratt to work at SU.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole campus," Himley said. "It brings someone who is very knowledgeable and very articulate about sexuality and gender, as well as race."
