Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University will reintroduce the Communication and the LGBTQ Community (WGST 265) course in the fall of 2024, marking its return for the first time since 2019. The course aims to explore communication patterns both about and within the LGBTQ community, providing students with insights into LGBTQ culture and social dynamics.

“Since the course was last offered, the discourse about the LGBTQ+ community has shifted,” said Lee Schwab, communication professor and course instructor. “In 2023, at least 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures across the country. These new contexts and attitudes will likely impact what is discussed.”

Offered by the School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts and the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, WGST 265 is open to all students and can fulfill the U.S. diversity requirement for general education. The curriculum will also cover new terminology such as asexuality, gender dysphoria, and distinctions between being cisgender or transgender.

Several Eastern Michigan University students have registered for the course, expressing enthusiasm over its content.

“I’m interested in expanding my knowledge in how communication plays a part in LGBTQ+ history and how current trends impact that,” said Katie George, a sophomore majoring in digital media and women’s and gender studies.

“As someone in the LGBTQ+ community, I’m excited to engage with students on these topics,” added Schwab. “So many LGBTQ+ individuals have profoundly impacted the art that we love and have influenced how we communicate. I am eager to talk about that representation.”

For more information on this class, visit the Women's and Gender Studies Department webpage.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is Michigan's second oldest public university. It serves over 13,000 students pursuing various degrees across multiple disciplines through its Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; as well as its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education.

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