INSTRUCTORS:
Dr. Yvonne Pitts, Associate Professor, Depart of History
Lowell Kane, Director, LGBTQ Center
Teaching Assistant: Kelsey Chapman, Program Coordinator, LGBTQ Center
2018 STUDYABROAD COHORT:
I’m Breanna Johnson, feel free to call me Bre, and I use she/her/hers or they/them/their pronouns (or any used in respect). I’m coming up on my senior year at Purdue and I consider campus my second home because of the amazing people I’ve met since I first arrived in Fall 2015. Most of those people come from LGBTQ+ people of color community on Purdue’s campus. They’ve welcomed me with open arms and I’m blessed to belong to such an accepting queer community that I consider family. Growing up with multiple minority identities in predominantly white, hetero spaces was a challenge. I was constantly looking for people who looked like me and had similar experiences being a queer person of color so, when I came to Purdue I was happy to finally engage with others like me.
I am looking forward to learning more about the history of my community on this trip as well as meeting other queer individuals in New York City, Paris, and Berlin. I’m most excited for participating in activism with ACT UP in NYC and Paris. This is my first time going abroad and I can’t imagine a better way to start my international travel experience!
Nicholas Morgan is a senior at Purdue University pursuing a degree in Professional Flight Technology and a minor in LGBT Studies. His coursework includes studies in aviation meteorology, aviation safety, flight standards, and aircraft systems, among other topics. Among the classes he has taken for his minor, Nicholas has most enjoyed “History of Sexual Regulation in the US” by Dr. Yvonne Pitts. This class, and his working relationships with the staff of the LGBTQ center were a major part of his decision to apply for this study abroad experience.
Outside of class, Nicholas has led several student organizations, including the Purdue LGBTQ+ Student Alliance and Purdue Professional Pilots. Through these organization, Nicholas worked to advocate for LGBTQ students on campus and provide professional development opportunities for students perusing careers in aviation. Most recently, he founded the Purdue University Chapter of the National Gay Pilots Association. Through this organization Nicholas hopes to advocate for LGBTQ pilots and aviation professionals within the School of Aviation Technology, and the industry as a whole.
While on this study abroad experience, Nicholas hopes to gain knowledge and techniques that will allow him to more effectively advocate for LGBTQ people, people with HIV and AIDS, and other marginalized communities throughout his field, career, and society as a whole. In addition, he hopes to gain a deeper understanding of how pervasive queerness is in art and history. Nicholas is most looking forward to exploring each of the cities to be visited on the trip.
I’m Crystal Thornhill and I am a Counseling Psychology graduate student at Purdue University. I am currently writing my dissertation on the impact of the black strong woman ideal on attitudes towards reporting sexual violence. I am also currently working at the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities as a graduate administrative professional doing student conduct and overseeing sanctioned service and another conduct class provided by our office. I am very passionate about helping students and working with people who may be struggling with college. I also do a lot of work around understanding ways to prevent sexual violence for racial and sexual minorities. While on the study abroad trip I plan to complete an independent study examining the ways that sexual violence is being prevented and addressed in queer communities in New York, Berlin, and Paris. I am also really excited to be on this trip because it will be my first time ever going to Europe. I can’t wait to try all the new food and see all of the museums I have been reading about for years! I addition I hope to learn more about sexual violence in queer communities so that I have something to take back to Indiana and share with others how these issues are being addressed.
My name is Myracle Newsome and I’m an incoming junior at Purdue University. I’m majoring in Anthropology with a focus on modern culture. I was invited to come along to study abroad a few times, but I wasn’t sure if I could without worrying about funding and compromising my community service scholarship from home because I wouldn’t be at home during the summer to do said community service. However, with some reassurances by my peers and mentors, and a special exception made by the coordinator of my scholarship, I jumped on the opportunity to venture out into the world with some of my favorite people. I’m thrilled to learn more about my culture as an LGBTQ+ person of color and as an anthropologist alike. One day, adventures like this one will be a routine part of my life, so I better get started early and acquire a taste of what’s to come.
Hi! I’m Elliott. I am a post-undergrad (is that a thing? let’s assume so) from Fishers, IN and am thrilled to be spending my final summer of college on this trip and with this group of people. This will be my first time in New York, Paris, or Berlin, and I’m looking to experiencing fashion, museums, histories, nightlife, and coffee cultures in these cities. For me, studying LGBTQ history is a way to uncover value and meaning in my own life, and situate my experience within a community that has been fighting and thriving for centuries. I am greatly privileged to be able to listen and explore with this group as I transition from school life to work life.
I recently graduated with a computer science degree and am en route to working as a software engineer in the tech industry. Outside of my professional life, I’m interested in law, politics, and ethics, and am passionate about organizing to combat inequality in the tech industry and the communities surrounding it. I’ve been a barista for the past few years and will gleefully show you my latte art portfolio if we run into each other.
You can use he/him or they/them pronouns to refer to me, and can find me on Twitter at @elliottwil.
Hi! My name is Nicholas Howard. I am a sophomore at Purdue University studying pre-pharmacy. From this study abroad experience, I’m hoping to learn a lot more about queer history. Currently, I have a poor knowledge about queer history because it is seldom mentioned in history books, but I hope to learn a lot more about the people who helped earn me the privileges that I have today. Also, I am hoping to gain an even broader cultural view of the world as this will be my second time traveling to Europe. I am so excited for some great coffee and new experiences! Some of my hobbies include drinking sparkling water, watching shows on Netflix, listening to rap music, and going to drag shows.
My name is Maurina Baker. I am majoring in agricultural communications-which surprisingly I plan to go into the field of education- particularly higher education. I was an intern in the LGBTQ Center during Spring 2018 where I first learned of the study abroad. I wanted to go on this study abroad because I am interested in learning about the hidden history of marginalized communities particularly those on the intersections of sexual orientation/gender identity and race. As someone who plans to go in education the opportunity to explore other cultures and learn more about history (and myself) was the opportunity of a lifetime, so here I am writing a bio in hopes that someday soon, someone reads this and feels like they know me a little better.
Hey! My name is Eden Conrad, I’m a Computer Science major, with a minor in LGBT Studies, I use She/Her/Hers and They/Them/Theirs pronouns, and I am very excited to take an in-person look at queer history and culture, as I have had very little real world experience in the subject. Most of my knowledge and experiences as a queer person come from the internet, and I have only recently been able to actually interact with fellow members of the LGBTQ+ community. I have a deep passion for understanding and analyzing queer identities, and I thoroughly enjoy having the opportunity to study them in an academic setting and learn the parts of history that aren’t so easily found on a Tumblr dashboard. I’m also a massive nerd, whose desire to find a stable D&D group never ceases, and I’m semi-infamous for my enthusiasm for Jackbox Party Pack video games.
Nicholas is a rising senior studying History, Law and Society and Women’s Gender and Sexual Studies. Our trip is Nicholas’ second study abroad and third international trip overall. He enjoys traveling, food, reading, soccer and amateur photography. Though Nick has many goals for this trip he hopes that our adventures will make him a more well-rounded historian as we delve into Queer history across the world. In addition, he is almost too about the World Cup. PARA ARGENTINA!!!!!
Hey y’all my name is Gabriella Renée and i’m a upcoming junior in the PolSci department with a minor in sustainable farming and farm systems. I went on this trip not knowing if I would get funding or if I would get accepted for it. Well I did on both fronts. I’m excited to learn about some of the not so obvious queer art and artists. I’m very excited about spending time with ACT-UP. But the thing i’m most thrilled about is the chance I will get to bond with my SPI (Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence) family in all the locations we travel to. Love and Glitter, Gabby