Angaben zu Autorin/Autor: | About Margaret Robinson
Academic History
* 1997 Honours B.A. in English and Religious Studies, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Thesis: "Non-Heterosexual Liberation Theology."
* 2001 M.A. in Theology, Saint Michael's University, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Thesis: "The Influence of Gender Construction on Catholic Approaches to Same-Sex Desire."
Academic Interests I'm currently a doctoral student at Regis College, University of Toronto. My area of specialization is sexual ethics.
My research interests include: sexual ethics, gender roles, relationship dynamics, religious prejudice (especially anti-Judaism), and class issues. My methodology is eclectic. I'm interested in postmodernism, feminism, queer theory, and critical theory.
My biggest project is planning for my dissertation. I'm thinking of calling it "Bisexual Ethics in a Postmodern World." Why a bisexual ethic? Well one reason is that I'm bisexual, and I don't find my concerns and needs are addressed adequately by many gay and lesbian theologians. Gay and lesbian theology has traditionally relied on essentialist models of sexual orientation (the "born that way" argument). These theologies are not liberating for people working from other models of sexual orientation. I hope to create a theology which uses a (slightly modified) social constructionist model, but also recognizes the element of choice.
Background I was born in 1973, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. I grew up in Sheet Harbour, a small village about 100km east of Halifax. I went to Saint Mary's University at seventeen, intending to pursue a graduate degree in English. While completing my B.A. requirements I was fortunate enough to take Dr. Stanley Armstrong's "Introduction to Religious Studies" course. I found the ideas so engrossing that I changed my programme to accommodate a double honours degree. This would give me the option of pursuing graduate work in either English or Religious Studies. For the moment, it seems that my interest in religion has won out.
Most of my non-school time is spent with my partner, Mr. Pugh. We met in 1993. We've been together as a couple since 1994, and legally married since 1996. We have no children or pets.
Activist Work
I came out as bisexual in 1992, and immediately became involved in GLBT activism in Halifax. Since moving to Toronto in 1997 I have been busy here as well.
Bi Pride Planning Since 2000 I've been a member of the Bi Pride Planning Committee of Toronto. This is an ungoverned mob of rowdy folks from the three groups that make up our bi community: Bisexual Women of Toronto, Toronto Bisexual Network, and Bisexual Men of Toronto. The Bi Pride Planning Committee gets together to plan social and political events. Originally, as the name suggests, we planned bisexual-focussed events for Pride Week. This spread to planning Celebrate Bisexuality Day in September, and then on into creating by-laws and monthly socials.
Dyke March From 1997 to 2001 I was a member of the Toronto Dyke March Committee. From 1999 to 2001 I was co-chair, first with Jenn Thiessen and then with Corinne McCrea. We created promotional material, gave interviews, planned and hosted Dykeversity (a queer women's art show), held raves, plays, and talent shows. We recruited, trained, and directed about 70 marshals. My biggest contribution was creating a manual for producing a Dyke March. This has since helped to nurture "daughter" marches in other cities.
Pride Toronto Being a member of the Dyke March Committee meant I was also a member of Pride Toronto. I advocated volunteer training on cultural competency, transsexual/ transgender issues, and bisexuality. These are now part of the training process for all volunteers. I also fought to get the City of Toronto to change its Pride Week announcement to include bisexuals, transsexuals, and the transgendered. Prior to 2001 the city announced only "Lesbian and Gay Pride Week." It took a lot of work, but for one brief year Toronto had one of the most inclusive Pride Week announcements in the world. Although the proclamation has continued to be inclusive, other cities have since followed suit.
http://www3.sympatico.ca/moogie.robinson/
[2006] |