Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Learn a bit about the historical activist roots of Pride with this infographic that features the early origins of LGBTQIA+ activism and organizing in the US. Beyond Target-sponsored Pride floats or Some Like It Hot (1959) inspired merch, the q***r and trans of color resistance strategies and struggles that came before us are the reason for the Pride season!

Sources:
ONE Archives at the USC Libraries
National Park Service - Mattachine Society
Library of Congress - The Daughters of Bilitis
Library of Congress - LGBTQIA+ Studies: A Resource Guide
National Archive - Pride in Protesting: 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising

Congrats, Evelyn!!

Shout out to another one of our incredible graduating WGSS majors! As a WGSS and Political Sciences double major, Evelyn has been an invested feminist scholar both on and off campus.

In her own words, she shared the following powerful remarks about her WGSS experience and community involvement:

“Through my community involvement and WGSS experiences, I began to completely reframe how I approach both Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Political Science, grounding theory in action by launching tutoring programs that work to expand access to knowledge for marginalized communities while also helping organize over a dozen protests and community-based events focused on reproductive justice and public education in the wake of the 2024 election.

It became real. It became urgent. It became personal for a lot of people—really quick.

At the same time, my experiences within WGSS classrooms—guided by professors who genuinely invested in my ideas—pushed me to think critically about everything from how legal autonomy is constantly negotiated and often undermined by gendered systems of law, to how the media and cinema we consume are never neutral but deeply gendered and ideological.

Those spaces changed me. They challenged me and built me. I found my voice. They encouraged my writing. Because of that support, I began pursuing publication and even started working toward writing a book. I realized that my ideas had both academic and real-world value beyond the classroom.

WGSS is rigorous. It is everywhere. It has shaped how I move. It has shaped how I choose. Whether I am thinking about the coffee shops I support, how I engage with the people around me, or how I carry myself through the world, this field has given me a framework that is both deeply theoretical and immediately lived, bridging disciplines and strengthening my political analysis in ways I never expected.

WGSS gave me direction. It gave me people and opportunities and friends that I will deeply cherish for the rest of my life. It gave me a future that I’m proud and excited to meet.”

Congratulations again, Evelyn!

Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Arts and Sciences at Ohio State

Happy Pride from the WGSS Department to you!

Congratulations to Bhada Han, our next spectacular senior student the department is celebrating!

Bhada is a double major in WGSS and English. She recently defended her research thesis entitled “From ‘New World’ to ‘Spin the Universe’: Re-Imagining Asiatic Womanhood in Lim Kim’s Generasian.” A song from the EP at the center of their analysis is featured on this post!

While at Ohio State, Bhada served as the student president of Enlighten, which works to spread awareness about human trafficking. She also is the current president of Triota, WGSS’s student society dedicated to community activism, collaboration, and practicing feminism beyond the classroom.

Excitingly, Bhada will be joining the University of Wisconsin-Madison University of Wisconsin-Madison this Fall to pursue a PhD in English.

Congratulations again, Bhada!

Arts and Sciences at Ohio State Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Congratulations to Parker, our next phenomenal graduating WGSS major we are spotlighting this week!

Parker is a double major in WGSS and Biology who is interested in pursuing a medical career. Parker has been an invaluable presence to the department, investing his time into writing cutting edge research by completing an Honors Thesis with Dr. Mytheli Sreenivas.

Parker’s research is about inequity in health care access and treatment, focusing on the invisibility of navigational labor that disproportionately affects young adults transitioning into adulthood when student health centers offer inadequate support.

Join us in congratulating Parker!!

Arts and Sciences at Ohio State Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Our next congratulations are owed to Tristen Gulasa!

Tristen will be graduating as a double major in WGSS and Journalism. While at Ohio State, Tristen contributed to the Lantern as a student writer. She also provided immense support for the Free Beer Tomorrow documentary project Free Beer Tomorrow

Tristen’s research aims to trouble essentialist ideas of le***anism by analyzing the erotica magazine “On Our Backs.” They theorize the space of le***an limbo as expansive across gender and desire, challenging rigidity and prioritizing community pleasure.

Congratulations again!!

Arts and Sciences at Ohio State

Shout out to Adrienne Gladish, our next outstanding graduating WGSS student. Adrienne is currently a staff member at Ohio State, working as the manager of Receiving and Shipping at the Ohio Union.

Related to her research, she also advises the student organization, Unchained OSU, which educated and spreads awareness on the issue of human trafficking across the globe.

In Adrienne’s own words, “My research is at the intersection of s*x trafficking in contrast to s*x work, the Nordic Model, and the federal and state laws that regulate s*x.”

Congratulations for your hard work!

Arts and Sciences at Ohio State Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Today we will be spotlighting Katie Johnson, another WGSS student graduating this Spring!

Katie helped found Ace Space, a student organization dedicated to fostering community for a-spec identities, while on campus. They had the chance to reflect on the importance of a-spec representation as a moderator of the first annual WGSS Love Club this year!

Their timely research revolves around the importance of preserving LGBTQ+ archives and making them more sustainable.

Congratulations Katie!

Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies