Honors College

Queer Identity and Social Structure

This Praxis Lab addressed three central questions: What is queer? What is activism? What is social justice? Students engaged with these complex inquiries, forming their own responses while exploring how others have answered them. They learned from community activists who grapple with these questions in their daily lives and work. Throughout the course, students deconstructed their own identities and examined how these are shaped by politics, culture, ideologies, media representations, and institutional practices.

By the end of the semester, students had developed a refined academic lens to analyze identity and social justice issues. They critiqued historical and contemporary efforts by activists and institutions to address challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community. In the second semester, students implemented strategic outreach initiatives that promoted inclusion and reduced discrimination. By the conclusion of the year, participants had reshaped their self-identities, strengthened community networks, and executed a groundbreaking project that raised awareness about social justice.