Project:
How Gay are your Genes?
From April 2004 to April 2006
Project Leader(s): Tom Shakespeare
Staff: Lisa Matthews
Contact: Lisa.Matthews@ncl.ac.uk
Sponsors: Royal Society Connecting People to Science (COPUS) grant
Background
This is a two-year science/art project working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual (LGBT) communities of the North East. It began in May 2004 and will end in early summer 2006 with a significant work of public art.
The project is delivered by Lisa Matthews (local writer, performer and creative writing tutor). She developed the idea for this project after working as writer in residence for PEALS. We know of no other science engagement work with gay communities.
Lisa is exploring what people think about research into the genetics of sexuality, and is gathering testimonies which will lead to a visual arts exhibition about nature/nurture and behavioural genetics. Our location in Times Square (Newcastle's thriving gay village) is an ideal opportunity for the LGBT community and workers in genetics to get to know one another.
Anyone who identifies as LGBT or is part of an existing LGBT group/society can get involved - no knowledge of science or writing is needed. We have not committed to what the public work of art as project outcome will be: we plan to wait and see what develops.
Workshops will be delivered:
- to existing LGBT groups and societies: Lisa will visit your group and deliver a one-off workshop free of charge.
- as open workshops which will be arranged in various venues in the region. Everyone is welcome and these public events will be specifically targeted at people who do not attend existing groups or societies.
The project will be developed in two stages:
Stage 1 - One off workshops - October 2004 - June 2005
Lisa will be delivering workshop talks (and facilitating discussion and debate) to LGBT groups, societies and organizations in the north east region.
Workshops will last two hours and cover:
- an introduction to the project's aims and objectives.
- a short talk about genetics and lots of materials to prompt discussion and debate.
- a look at how and why we are the way we are. This general discussion will hopefully lead into another about how genetics affects our lives. We'll look at questions like: is a person born LGBT; is being LGBT a choice; why do some people wait until later in life to 'come out' and many more fascinating issues around sexual identity and desire.
No one will be forced to write creatively, however, participants will be encouraged to complete worksheets. You can write in any style (eg in whole sentences, fragments and/or single words). Group participants will be encouraged to write about and articulate their feelings about this controversial and provocative subject. Everyone, regardless of their experience, ability or interest in writing and literature will be able to participate. Everyone's writing will collected and incorporated - in some way - into a public work of art, unless they wish to withdraw it.
Stage 2 - In-depth artistic study of LGB - July 2005 onwards
A smaller group of people will be recruited to work in more detail and over a longer period of time with both Lisa and a visual artist(s). The artist(s) will also identify as LGBT and will be engaged at this stage to work with the group. We'll look in greater depth at issues and ideas around the gay gene, behavioural genetics and what it all means to LGBT people. Visiting speakers from science, media and social science will contribute their views.
All the work from the earlier one-off workshops, together with the output of the smaller group will be used by the visual artist to create significant pieces of artwork, in collaboration with participants. We don't know at this stage exactly what form or in which media this artwork will be created. These decisions will be made after the second stage of the project is under way and in collaboration with all the participants.
If you would like to be involved or would like further information please contact us at the PEALS address. If you only want your correspondence to be opened by Lisa then clearly mark it 'Private and Confidential, FAO Lisa Matthews'. You can also e-mail: lisa.matthews@ncl.ac.uk or telephone: 0191 241 8614
Gay Genes project update, April 2006
Between September and December of 2005, Lisa worked with a group of LGBT individuals from the north east of England to discuss and debate issues around the idea of a “gay gene”.
Our expert speakers in Phase II included: Su Stenhouse a diagnostic geneticist; Dr Catherine Donovan a social scientist; Jenny Kitzinger a professor of media studies and Dr Tom Shakespeare a social scientist and bio ethicist.
This Phase of the project was hard work and everyone who took part has contributed to the final installation that opens at the Hatton Gallery at the end of June (see future updates for confirmation of dates and gallery times etc.) For some the contribution was simply that of listening and speaking and no matter how small or large, everyone’s voice and ideas have been invaluable.
During Phase II we asked some key questions of the participants and then used creative writing to unpack ideas and responses. We recorded voices, shot video footage and utilised pen and paper. Here are just some of the questions we considered:
• When did you first realise you were LGBT?
• Is sexuality a choice or is it set a birth?
• What is a stereotypical LGBT person like?
• What words/phrases are used to describe LGBT people?
• Can sexuality be explained by genetics?
• What is a stereotypical bisexual person like?
• Who was your first crush?
• When and how do you “come out”?
• What can genetics tell us about ourselves?
• Have any other factors affected your sexuality?
• If a “gay gene” were to be found what would the consequences be?
• Should we be afraid of genetics?
• Why is knowing the origins of our sexuality important?
• Who controls research and its findings?
Since the start of 2006 Predrag has been working hard on the actual artworks and installation and Lisa has been busy keeping everything afloat and ticking over. We will install the show in the third week of June and are busy planning a private view and launch for key participants and contributors. Finally, after a long and hard eighteen months of community work, the finishing post of this unique project is now visible.
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Ms Lisa Matthews
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Dr Tom Shakespeare
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