Gabriela Martinez (she/her) is a senior at Georgetown University. She majors in Government, with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Born and raised in Red Oak, Texas, her interest in government stems from her passion for advocacy and working to empower unheard voter voices. Gabriela is also interested in creating social change around inclusivity and accessibility in educational spaces, which has manifested in her research with the Gender+ Justice Initiative.
Queer Identity Expression in the American Rural South
My research explores how rural spaces shape gender expression and queer identities, specifically focusing on a case study in Texas. Using a small town that is half an hour away from a major city, I will study the life cycle of the high school’s Gay Straight Alliance club, and how gender expression in queer individuals developed before, during, and after the club’s existence. Interviewees in this research will include current students, alumni, and staff of the high school. This project expands on previous research that focuses on gay men in rural areas and opens the conversation to queer individuals of different genders and sexualities. As the state of Texas attempts to erase queer identities from official recognition in public schools, the voices of such individuals must be given a platform to tell their stories.