LECTURE/CONVERSATION
Beyond Binaries: Identity and Sexuality
This program explores the landscape of sexual orientation. Like snowflakes, no two people are exactly alike, so how do we assign labels to our complicated and unique experiences? What is the relationship between experience and self-identity, between self-identity and the way we are "read" by others? In this interactive program we explore different experiences of identity; the complexity of attraction and more. (classroom version available) |
WORKSHOP
Expanding Our Circles ***NEW***
“On our college campuses, many of us are in the process of re-imagining gender and sexual orientation. We're creating social spaces with very different understandings than that of the world around us. But we can't spend our entire lives inside these bubbles. We have to interact with the world around us. How do we share what we have learned with others? How do we expand our circles of safety?” (advanced level discussion for LGBTQ activists) |
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Watch Robyn's Keynote
at BECAUSE Conference, Minneapolis, 2009 here >> |
LECTURE/CONVERSATION
Bisexuality, Feminism, Men & Me
How are same-sex relationships different from mixed-sex relationships? This provocative talk explores some of the intersections between the personal and the political, covering topics from body image to social sex role conditioning to heterosexual privilege. People of all genders and sexual orientations are welcome. (This is a good classroom presentation.) |
LECTURE/CONVERSATION
I Now Pronounce You... Equal
Regardless of your position on same-sex marriage, it's a very confusing issue, and it is very difficult to keep track of what's going on in the United States and around the world. Get your questions answered, and hear the personal story of someone from Massachusetts who legally married her wife on May 17, 2004. This presentation is followed by an extended question and answer period. |
WORKSHOP
Challenging Biphobia: What You Can Do
Biphobia (bahy – phobe – ia): n. “fear or discrimination against bisexuals”
Allies and bi folks – join us as we explore the effect of biphobia in our own lives. How can we unlearn negative messages and misinformation and be proactive and fabulous rather than defensive? How can non-bi folks be allies to bisexual people and others with non-binary identities? Join Robyn Ochs for an interactive and thought-provoking workshop. Together, we’ll answer these questions, then turn our shared knowledge into tools and tactics for fighting biphobia. |
LECTURE/CONVERSATION
Bisexuality 101 and Beyond
What is bisexuality? What does it mean to identify as bisexual? What are some of the challenges to understanding and representing this often overlooked segment of the GLBT community? Please join us for a lively presentation by award-winning speaker, writer and educator Robyn Ochs. Bring your own list of myths: we’ll analyze them a bit and explore their origins.
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LECTURE/CONVERSATION
Transgressing Binaries: Activism & Academia
This talk addresses some of the barriers that impede communication between the streets and the ivory tower, and suggests strategies for building coalitions. |
WORKSHOP
For Counseling Staff & Student Services Professionals
Working With Bisexual Clients
What are the unique mental health needs of young people who identify as bisexual? What does this label mean? How can mental health professionals and others who work with students best prepare themselves for meeting these needs? In this presentation, Robyn will address these and other questions regarding how best to serve those coming out as bisexual or embracing other labels of sexual fluidity. Target audience: Mental health professionals and advanced students of counseling and/or psychology.
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WORKSHOP
Self-Care For Activists
"If I don't do it, it won't get done right (or not at all...)"
Have you ever felt overwhelmed, unsupported, exhausted by your activism? Let's come together to brainstorm strategies for taking care of ourselves while changing the world.
(This program is directed at all social justice advocates.) |
WORKSHOP
Embracing A Both/And Identity in an
Either/Or World
Having any sexual orientation or gender identity comes with its own baggage, there are particular issues faced by people who identify as bisexual, pansexual, genderqueer, or who use other labels that defy an either/or interpretation of the world. Together we will examine these issues and devise strategies to proudly "be all that we can be." |
LECTURE/CONVERSATION
Bisexuality: A Transnational Perspective
Reading and discussing selected essays and passages from Robyn's anthology, Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World, we examine bisexuality in transnational and intersectional context. How does context affect experience? Which are shared experiences of bisexuality, and which are culturally specific? This is an interactive presentation, excellent for classrooms. Readings will be selected to fit the specific needs and interests of participants. |
KEYNOTE/LECTURE
My Family Values: Lessons from a Generation of GLBT Rights Activism
Robyn Ochs draws upon two decades of experience as a GLBT rights activist, candidly discussing the mistakes as well as successes of the gay/lesbian/bi/trans movement. Where are we now? Where should we be heading? |
LECTURE/CONVERSATION
For Faculty, Staff, and Professional Audience
The Changing Landscape of Identity: Understanding and Supporting Students of All Gender Identities and Sexual Orientations
Our teens and twenties are times of exploration, discovery and growth. For non-heterosexual students, this is a time when presumptive labels and sexuality are called into question. Robyn will discuss her work with teens and young adults, and share some of her observations and the lessons she has learned. |
KEYNOTE/LECTURE
Imagining Our Lives
We are living in a time of tremendous advances in gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered rights. But this process of change is every uneven: in some places GLBT people have more civil rights than ever before; in others our progress is being rolled back. Both popular support and homophobia are on the upswing. Words of encouragement for these challenging times. |
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INFORMAL DISCUSSION FOR LBGT FACULTY & STAFF
LGBT Advocacy for Faculty & Staff
Robyn is a cofounder of Harvard University's LGBT Faculty and Staff Group. She would welcome the opportunity to sit down with you to discuss best practices related to LGBT faculty and staff on university campuses, and to strategize with you about the needs and possibilities on your campus. |
WORKSHOP
Choosing to Label: What's in a Name?
Bi, lesbian, gay, straight, queer, questioning, choose-not-to-label. How do you decide which label to use? What do labels do? What don’t they do? Is it possible to avoid labels? What is the difference between ascribed labels and chosen labels? How can we manage our identities in order to get the maximum benefit with the minimum cost? Let’s think creatively and proactively about identity. This is a participatory workshop, and all are welcome. |
WORKSHOP
For Residence Life Staff
Life in the Fishbowl
Residence life staff who are members of one or more minority groups face special challenges. How do we balance our minority identities with our residence life identities? Discussion will cover topics such as role modeling; living in a fishbowl; being tokenized; activism; and how our minority identities can assist us in our residence life positions. |
WORKSHOP
Loosening the Gender Girdle:
How Gender
Affects You
What makes a man "a man"? What makes a woman "a woman"? We will look at the ways in which we are limited by a binary understanding of gender, and explore how the politics of gender tie together the feminist, queer and transgendered movements. Come, and bring your gender with you. |
WORKSHOP
Challenging Heterosexism
What is heterosexism? What is homophobia? What are their effects upon each of us? How can we unlearn negative messages and misinformation and be effective allies to gay, lesbian, bi and transgender people? This interactive and thought-provoking workshop will help us to answer these questions, and then organize our shared knowledge into tools and tactics for change. (Note: this is a 2-hour workshop) |
KEYNOTE
Lavender Graduation Keynotes
Short, inspirational talks for LGBT graduation events. Robyn loves doing these! |
CUSTOM PROGRAMS
Robyn can also do half or full-day programs, or mini-conferences, custom-designed for the needs of your group. |
All programs include a facilitated discussion.
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