Kathryn Stockton Awarded Equality Utah's Allies Award
The Equality Utah Allies Award has been given every year since 2002 when the organization, known then as Unity Utah, hosted the first Allies Dinner. This award recognizes the courage, integrity, and leadership that awardees have demonstrated through unwavering support of Utah’s LGBTQ community.
This year, Equality Utah has chosen to honor Dr. Kathryn Bond Stockton with a 2015 Allies Award. As a distinguished professor of English at the University of Utah, she inspires her students to reclaim the word “queer” - a word that previously was used to harm LGBTQ people. Her groundbreaking lectures on queer theory resulted her winning the prestigious Rosenblatt Prize in 2013.
As Dr. Stockton explains, “If you look the word “queer” up in the dictionary, there are two different definitions that are important to queer theory. One is slang, usually derisive for ‘homosexuals’ (though obviously less derisive now, as gay folks have embraced it) and the other definition is simply, ‘strange’. At its most fundamental level, ‘queer’ means ‘strange.’ Queer theory likes both of those parts of the definition to be active.”
Dr. Stockton will be honored at Equality Utah’s 14th Allies Dinner: Queer New World on October 3rd, 2015 at 6pm. Tyler Glenn from the Neon Trees will provide the keynote and perform. Discounts are available for students by emailing turner@equalityutah.org. Those wishing to purchase tickets or tables may do so at equalityutah.org/allies. Ticket and table sales from the Allies Dinner directly support the advocacy work of Equality Utah's 501(c)4 organization.
Congratulations, Dr. Stockton!