Ben Singer: Alphabet Re-View: Unpacking the Additive Politics of L+G+B+T+

Dr. Singer will be addressing the ways that we imagine politics, particularly through the use of the additive alphabet approach. Just adding another letter to the list suggests that the letter is the end goal, rather than a true understanding of the identities associated with those letters. For example, in trans-studies and activism, if we just add the T for transgender, then people believe we've instantly created an inclusive politics. Instead, he would like to suggest that T actually means *transformation* not simply transgender. T for transformation might do a better job of encompassing the complexity of sexual identities. Dr. Singer would like to challenge us to realize that when we add letters we take on an obligation to re-view, and re-think, our ways of doing politics and to re-imagine our political frames, goals, priorities, and ways of thinking. Ben Singer, Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Department