All posts by Storm Hernandez, Correspondent

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Celebrating Women’s History month

 

Women’s history month is a time of celebration. 

Brianna Burgos a Northern Essex Community College student describes it as a way “to put a spotlight on the women that have been overlooked on their struggles, their accomplishments.” 

According to the National Women’s History Museum the month started out as a week and was officially recognized in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. 

With more vocal advocates and representation, the question of who should be included and recognized during Women’s History month has been debated. 

Burgos believes that “Trans women have every right to advocate for women’s voices and protest against violence and hate crimes that target all women.” 

In this spirit it is important to highlight activists like Laverne Cox, an openly transgender actress, has brought representation to the screen for many trans women in the LGBT+ community. 

Trans people have struggled finding representation in media, but activists like Laverne Cox make the possibility of equity possible.  

In an interview with NPR’s Noel King, Cox talked about how important representation is, and she pointed out the difference between just being seen and being represented. She said, “Trans people have always been seen, but we’ve not always been represented, right? And in the being seen and being visible, we’ve often been misrepresented.”  

This idea of being seen and being represented is important and not something that is solely reserved to the LGBT+ community. It brings to mind portrayals of Lennie from “Of Mice and Men” or Bo from “To Kill a Mockingbird.” 

Just because someone sheds light on a marginalized group does not mean that they are being accurately portrayed let alone represented.  

Cox continued in the interview to liken trans representation to how blackness has been portrayed. 

Cox, said, “We’ve often been stereotyped and stigmatized and pathologized and sensationalized in film. So we’ve always been there. But the way – just like depictions of blackness have always been, their depiction of folks along a gender spectrum have always existed in films. But representation that is authentic, that is about the real lived experiences of trans people have not always been there.”  

This representation of minority or marginalized groups isn’t something that is important simply for those communities, but it is part of history as a society. 

Cox said, “It is a story of a system that consciously and unconsciously oppressed us.” Enough in the world divides people. Burges said, “whether transgender or cisgender, we live in a world where we share a common struggle.” 

Arts and Entertainment, Home Page News Bytes

Drag in our community

 
A drag queen with a beard in a mermaid dress.
Photo by Erik Magnussen

Drag has become a controversial topic. 

With lawmakers seeking to criminalize certain aspects of drag, what do those that interact with drag really think about the art form? 

Boston based Drag performer Just JP says, “drag is my superhero costume. In drag I am presenting in a way where I feel invincible and powerful.” 

People that oppose the art form like Arizona Republicans told NPR in a joint statement, “If men want to dress as women, and if adults want to participate in watching these hyper-sexualized performances, they have the freedom to do so. It crosses the line when kids are subjected to these drag shows.” 

Just JP challenges that idea, saying, “drag is not inherently sexual, and the people who think drag is inherently sexual are usually misogynists who believe drag is only “the illusion of womanhood” and assume women are sexual objects.” 

Shaun Hood former editor of the Arts and Entertainment section of the Observer and current Northern Essex student says it more politely, “Some shows are for all ages, and some shows are for adults.” 

Just like any other performer drag artists tailor their performances to their audiences.

Just JP described drag performers as “fashionable clowns,” and as a bearded flamboyant Queen this definition fits them well. Merriam-Webster defines drag as “entertainment in which performers caricature or challenge gender and often wear elaborate or outrageous costumes.” Despite these benign definitions, drag has been demonized by politicians and people alike. Maybe some people don’t like the reflection they are forced to confront when attending a drag performance?

Shaun Hood has attended drag shows in both Haverhill and Salem, Massachusetts and finds it a cheap and fun way to see live entertainment. 

Hood described drag simply as “queer entertainment.” He specifically likes getting to see live singers perform without paying concert level prices. 

While it can be said that drag is unconventional that doesn’t necessarily make it the boogey man that some people seem to make it out to be. Just JP talked about the impact that they want to have on their community. Obviously, they want to entertain and distract, like most performers, but what they believe to be most important was to “harbor a community where no one is hungry, no one is unsafe, no one is unhoused.” 

While no one can be perfect, it’s important not to let perfect get in the way of good. Interviews have been requested of the Global Politics Club and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance at Northern Essex Community College, but no one has volunteered.