NWSA Panel CFP: The Political Uses and Abuses of Childhood: Queer Pasts, Presents, Futures
The last few years have seen a resurgence in conservative political activism concerned with protecting children from queer adults. Parents and politicians around the country are pushing to pass homophobic and transphobic legislation. These include, to name a few examples, laws being proposed to prohibit children from attending Drag shows, the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” in Florida, and most recently, DeSantis blaming queer theory for the rejection of a high school AP African American Studies course. These contemporary iterations, of course, have historical precedents: such as Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” or The Briggs Initiative to fire gay teachers.