User:OsaRosa/11. LGBTQ Rhetoric

Areas of LGBTQ+ Communication Studies
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LGBTQ+ Rhetoric
R's section of the lead:

LGBTQ+ rhetoric is the examination of techniques used by speakers writers and scholars to motivate and inform an audience on LGBTQ+ matters. Rhetoric is an art of persuasion that goes along with grammar, and logic/dialect, it is used to study techniques in speaking, writing and argument. This type of humanity based discipline is used in LGBTQ+ communities to reach out to both people within the community and outside of it to motivate and develop discovery and argument. Rhetorical research has examined how technical communication impacts trans people, such as how documents can exclude certain groups and make them invisible'''. '''

C's part of the lead: LGBTQ+ rhetoricians have studied the debate over transgender individuals in sports with much of this scholarship being focused on the effects the rhetoric has on trans individuals who are bearing its force.

Queer Counterpublics
Counterpublic (sometimes counter-public or counter public) is defined as a subset of publics that stand in conscientious opposition to a dominant ideology and strategically subvert that ideology's construction in public discourse. Within the context of the queer community, this means standing in opposition to heteronormativity, and represents all facets of queer culture.

Counterpublics are larger than the LGBTQ+ community, but members of the community often identify heavily with the concept of a counterpublic in order to find community among heteronormativity. The concept of counterpublics allow marginalized communities to build subcultures that foster further acceptance and belonging, as well as helping build safe spaces for queer youth in areas that might not be accessible for them such as bars or club settings.

Queer Public Memory Rhetoric
Public memory (sometimes referred to as collective memory) is defined as collective knowledge, information, memory, or shared experiences between a group that typically contributes to their identity. It can be passed on through a number of ways, such as oral tradition or written texts.

Public memory, especially queer public memory, takes a number of different forms, from oration to physical monuments or texts, to digital archives. Scholars have cited the importance of digital archives as a resource for education, especially because of the increased ability for public interaction.

Public memory has an important connection to the LGBTQ+ community. Because of the history behind the stigmatization and discrimination against LGBTQ+ identities, the concept of public memory is often associated with traumatic memories and experiences of past violence. However, public memory has also been utilized to help garner support for LGBTQ+ movements, through showcasing the lives of people with intersectional identities whose stories tend to be underrepresented and showcasing the lives of those lost to anti-LGBTQ+ violence in order to foster unity and connection.

Queer and Trans Social Movement Rhetoric
Social movements are defined as a social or political group of people trying to carry out change usually as a form of starting social change or in reaction to it. Rhetorical research has examined how technical communication impacts trans people, and how the presence of physical representation in the world rather than just online encourages political participation and activism. One of the ways they do this is zines, as a call to action as it is a physical representation of moving from the online world into the physical. The research found based around LGBTQ+ rhetoric has found that having a physical representation can further the use of rhetor in social movements beyond written or spoken word. The physical presence of advocacy in the world helps to spread the word of truth both inside and outside of the community making it possible for more movements similar to this one.

Queer and Trans Archives and Rhetorical Criticism

Queer and trans archives are collections that LGBTQ+ rhetoricians analyze. These rhetorics ask what the unique approaches and strategies are that the LGBTQ+ community have used and are using to make meaning within their communities and to continue to advance and grow in wider cultural and sociopolitical contexts. A rhetorical analysis of professional LGBTQ+ groups looked into how institutions use their core beliefs to exclude, and the emotional impact this had on their emotional state. Another finding of theirs was that negative political feelings caused by discrimination leads to decreased participation. While another researcher found that intersectional rhetoric can encourage critics to try to comprehend power and identity and how they influence social justice. These researchers looked into the intersectionality of identities and how it affects power dynamics in both interpersonal communications and group settings.

Transgender Rhetoric
Rhetorical scholars have begun to study the discussion of transgender people in sports. But recently the discussion has risen to new heights as it becomes increasingly common for either trans people joining sports, or people who have been in sports for years coming out as trans. Recently this topic has begun being researched by rhetoricians in Communication Studies to find its effects on members of trans communities.

Scholarship in rhetoric of transgender individuals in sports has agreed that these views stem from pre-existing sexism and racism, and expands, accepts, and encourages "othering" which is the social act of outcasting individuals, often whom have already been historically marginalized. This rhetoric seeking to "other" can also be found in the discussion of trans people in sports. This comes as trans people are becoming increasingly more "out" in sports. Aligning with the rhetoric of othering, states, such as Idaho, have passed legislation like the "Fairness in Women’s Sports Act" that aim at banning trans women and girls in sports designated for women and girls. Scholars argue that this aids in communicating that trans people, and specifically trans women, do not have a place within women's sports.

Ken Paxton released a statement in 2022 over trans healthcare for youth that argues that gender affirming care can be viewed on the grounds of child abuse, endangerment, and sterilization, which was anlyzed as rhetorical text. Scholars argue that this letter and statements like these invalidate the trans identity and experience while telling trans individuals that they do not have a place in our society.