As a part of its LGBTQ Health and Wellness Week, the Spectrum Center hosted a talk titled Queer Martyrdom: The Religious and Sexual Politics of LGBTQ Inclusion. This event featured guest speaker Brett Krutzsch, a scholar from New York University and author of the book “Dying to Be Normal: Gay Martyrs and the Transformation of American Sexual Politics.” Krutzsch spoke to an audience of about 20 students, staff and community members. Krutzsch discussed both historical and modern issues pertaining to the intersection of religion and the LGBTQ+ community. He referenced two anecdotal stories about LGBTQ youth Matthew Shepard and Fred F.C. Martinez, whose murders sparked controversy in contrasting ways. Shepard was an openly gay college student in Wyoming who was kidnapped, robbed and beaten in 1998. He was tied to a fence and left to die in near-freezing temperatures. He succumbed to his injuries several days after the attack and quickly became a symbol in LGBTQ+ activists’ fight for acceptance and equality. “Parents throughout the country felt that Matthew could have been their son, an idea many had never contemplated before of a gay person,” Krutzsch said. “Instead of describing him as an adult man who had boyfriends or lovers, he becomes a kid within the American nuclear family.” Krutzsch said the public connected to Shepard’s story, citing several journalists who wrote about the murder and how it sparked national response. “We have this Christian rhetoric that he is continuing to lead and teach others after he dies and in doing that, Shepard transforms into an image of gay men completely disassociated from public sex,” Krutzsch said. Martinez, who was murdered in Colorado in 2001, was “nádleehí,” a Navajo word used for a man with feminine attributes. 18-year-old Shaun Murphy beat 16-year-old Martinez to death with a rock, and received a 40-year sentence for the crime. Murphy was paroled in 2019 after serving 17 years in prison. Krutzsch said because Martinez was a person of color, his murder carried a significantly different narrative than Shepard’s. “We have witnessed a national student movement for the growth of A/PIA Studies, but at the same time, we have watched a national struggle for A/PIA Studies to be institutionally supported by universities,” the letter said. “This University is no exception.” The requirements outlined by the students include the creation of an A/PIA Studies major, more recognition and support for the faculty of ethnic studies programs, more spaces to hold lectures, additional faculty specifically dedicated to the ethnic studies program and meetings with LSA Dean Anne Curzan. “The students of A/PIA Studies have witnessed a litigation in which the University that we chose to attend has excluded our role models, directly discredited our presence, and denied the existence of our lived realities,” the letter said. “We now need a period to heal and move forward from such an alienating process.” As of Wednesday night, the letter had more than 100 signatures from the A/PIA Studies community as well as other University students. In an interview with The Daily last week, University President Mark Schlissel said he was glad the University won the trial. “We’re gratified they agreed with us,” Schlissel said. “As always with juries, it was a relatively lengthy and complicated trial. … We’re always trying to hear constructive criticism, even if we disagree with its conclusions.” Schlissel said he’s spent time with A/PIA leadership to continue the ongoing conversation on how to improve the situation for the programs. “I would find it disappointing if any student felt as if they weren’t supported for any reason, any mode of identity,” Shlissel said. “Our student affairs staff and the folks that work on our multiculturalism programs are in contact with A/PIA and other groups. I’ve had A/PIA leadership to the house for breakfast, probably once a semester the last several years, and it’s an ongoing dialogue.” In response to this statement, James Lee, LSA senior and A/ PIA Studies minor, said he felt offended by Schlissel’s mention of the entire A/PIA community being represented by a small group of leadership. “When Schlissel says ‘A/PIA’ generally, that is completely antithetical to diversity,” Lee said. “Because if you’re going to say, ‘I listened to A/PIA,’ that’s 15 percent of the student body. Who are you listening to? If you want to say something about diversity but then at the same time say the entirety of A/PIA is just a monolith and that you listen to everybody out there, when we’ve had experiences when we know you don’t (listen to us). You can have all this discourse about diversity, but that doesn’t matter when you’re doing nothing (to make improvements).” 2 — Thursday, February 6, 2020 The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com News TUESDAY: By Design FRIDAY: Behind the Story WEDNESDAY: This Week in History MONDAY: Looking at the Numbers THURSDAY: Twitter Talk genta @gentanishku just reminiscing, but one of the wildest things about living in ann arbor for three years was getting emails boasting about the town & university’s “values” while watching the number of people on the streets grow before our eyes from year to year BRAPRIPPER @ElectricJizzard Walking across ann arbor with two eggs in my pocket please DO NOT bump into me John @notbrokenow Protesting @Umich’s investment in Fossil Fuels by stealing food from North Campus Best Michigan Dining @UmichBroccoli The combo of a “Saturdays are for the Boys” flag and a whole bunch of pride flags on the same house might be the best way to sum up Ann Arbor LAV @_Lavar_ Nobody: People at umich: oh it’s not that far, just a 30 minute walk! 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