Not yet queer, here and now for sexualities and schooling

The title of this article symbolises a play on two works by leading scholars in queer theory. ‘Not yet queer’ is a reference to José Muñoz’s (2009) work on queer futurity in his book Cruising Utopia. ‘Here and now’ is a reference to Eve Sedgwick’s (1993) chapter in Tendencies, ‘Queer and now’.

Abstract

This paper represents our collective engagements and productive struggles with queer pedagogical-methodological (im)possibilities across a constellation of educational contexts. Following in the footsteps of queer theorists-pedagogues before us, we approach queerness as a horizon, a unique opportunity to experiment, take risks, explore new forms of undoing and to move-be-think-do otherwise. We begin by attending to the ways in which researchers-educators in the field of sexualities and schooling are pushing these conversations forward, followed by two vignettes from our own work. Our intention in sharing these vignettes is to slow down and expose some of the methodological-pedagogical processes that guide our work, our attempts to stay in the moment that trouble creates, and the challenge of staying in that moment to learn from it. This paper suggests that embracing new forms of enquiry, which account for queer methodological-pedagogical sensibilities, requires researchers-educators to actively embrace the failures of their own practice and engage with the contestations of theories that matter/materialise.

Keywords:

• Queer pedagogy
• queer methodologies
• vulnerability in resistance
• radical subversion
• schooling
• sexualities

Notes

The title of this article symbolises a play on two works by leading scholars in queer theory. ‘Not yet queer’ is a reference to José Muñoz’s (2009) work on queer futurity in his book Cruising Utopia. ‘Here and now’ is a reference to Eve Sedgwick’s (1993) chapter in Tendencies, ‘Queer and now’.

1. It Gets Better is an Internet-based project founded in the USA in 2010 by columnist and podcaster Dan Savage and his partner Terry Miller in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were queer or were suspected to be. Its goal is to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by having queer adults (including celebrities) convey the message that these young people’s lives will get better.

2. The Working Beyond Binaries project includes face to face workshops with 12 pre-service teachers throughout the year, as well as the use of an online discussion platform. Leanne and pre-service teachers, as research partners, engage collectively in group discussions and private messages using the online platform.

3. Kumashiro’s (2004) article had been a provocation which framed one of the Working Beyond Binaries face to face workshops.