Lane Fenrich, distinguished senior lecturer in gender and sexuality studies at Northwestern University.
“I worry a lot less about being ‘assimilated’ than about the mental health and physical safety of queer teens in a country debating (again) whether it is OK for teachers to even acknowledge their existence,” says Dr. Some might say that the idea that LGBTQ+ people have achieved assimilation (or even acceptance) is up for debate.
Has the LGBTQ+ community unwittingly played a role in this by seeking assimilation? Credit: Bill Roundy for Chicago ReaderĪre rainbow-festooned events full of glitter, sequins, and boas signs of progress? Strides made by LGBTQ+ people are increasingly under fire in the forms of violence, rhetoric, and quasi-legal attacks on the rights of the community. You can still find new friends at the bars.
