Cheer SF !

 

Cheer SF was formed by Guy Andrade in 1980 as the first professional, LGBT-identified cheer leading team in history. The team was originally known as the “Hayward Raw Rahs but in 1996 the team became known as CHEER San Francisco. The program become a huge hit instantly and from then on the team traveled has now traveled across the state of California, around the country and even around the wold to showcase their style of performance and athleticism unique to CHEER SF.

CHEER SF is distinguished as the only cheer leading team to have appeared at all eight Gay Games

Today, CHEER SF is history-in-the-making as they continue to pave new paths and benchmarks for themselves. Their athleticism, teamwork and esprit de corps has earned them a reputation of respect and admiration amongst the collegiate cheer squads in the region with whom they participate at annual cheer camps. They have gone from pursuing performance opportunities to being sought-after as featured performers at large scale events, including professional sporting organizations, and sponsors have begun to take notice of the incredible marketing opportunities arising from CHEER SF’s amazing popularity.

In 2000 CHEER SF became the first and only partner organization of the Lesbian and Gay Bands Association following over ten years of performing at events across the country and internationally with the wonderful musicians who make up LGBA.

Few Achievements

-Largest, most seen, most fiscally successful and longest-running community-based, non-profit, adult cheerleading team in the world.

-First and LGBT identified cheerleading team to be invited to and perform at a US Presidential Inauguration.

-Recipent of the first 2 team gold medals for cheerleading in Gay Games history.

 

Throughout the semester we have learned various ways of which transpeople feel they have no place of recognition, belonging, community, etc. We have also discussed forms of resistance and the effects from their gender identity. I was hoping to find an organization that had specifically focused on people of color since the reading for today’s class is   “Performance as Intravention: Ballroom Culture and the Politics of HIV/AIDS in Detroit,” but the reading does discuss a form of community  and in the reading Bailey discusses the importance of community and belonging to an organization and it gives them “another means through which image and status are formed and repaired.” This is how I related CHEER SF back to the class reading. CHEER SF  not only performs and competes at cheer competition, but because their history and known as LGBT identified team, they also raise awareness (such as HIV/AIDS) within the bay area and else where.  Bailey’s states that communities at risk, such as AIDS, need various ways of intravention. And in support, community groups such as the ballroom culture in Detroit helps with this intravention of awareness.

 

 

Upcoming Event

Park Day School LGBTQ Pride Day

May 16, 2014
360 42nd St
Oakland, CA

CheerSF is thrilled to be invited to perform at the opening assembly for Park Day School’s annual LGBTQ Pride Day.  Park Day is a K-8 progressive school with a mission that focuses on a commitment to diversity and social justice. Park Day prepares students to be informed, courageous, and compassionate people who shape a more equitable and sustainable world.  CheerSF is honored to bring our support of diversity and inclusion to Park Day’s celebration to all children at the school struggling with coming out, gender identity and other LGBTQ issues.
– See more at: http://www.cheersf.org/events/park-day-school-lgbtq-pride-day#sthash.ON5apnXj.dpuf

Gay Day at Great America
May 23, 2014
Santa Clara, CA
Santa Cruz Pride
Jun 01, 2014
Santa Cruz, CA

 

Website: http://www.cheersf.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHEERSanFrancisco

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CHEERSanFrancisco

 

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Discussion Questions: Reading 1) Shuttling Between Bodies & Borders/ Reading 2) Silhouettes of Defiance

1) In the reading Shuttling Between & Borders, Shakhsari discusses how the refugees from Iran are forced to have a SRSs in order to prevent homosexuality. The individuals are  able to receive a new birth certificate, passport, etc. My question is, if these individuals are forced to have a SRSs (even though some may not want to), what is the point of having these individuals change their sex if their still face with social harassment, job discrimination and violence ?

 

2) In the reading Silhouettes of Defiance, Gossett discusses relevance of the Stonewall riots in New York as well as discusses the major event of Compton’s Cafeteria Riot where violence was conducted by the police. Gosset mentions that there are no transgender or racialized bodies before or after Stonewall. Gosset say they are discarded in the process of legitimizing white homonormative history. The Compton’s Riot is a important event that is relevant to transgender to history. Will transgender history ever be relevant and will always be covered by the white homonormative history?

Gender Identity

When you think of gender identity, you think about what a person identifies as their own gender. For some, they have a hard time identifying whom they are and what to actually identify as. I decided to cover the key concept of gender identity. In the two readings of “Global Divas” by Martin Manalansan and “Sexile” by Jamie Cortez, this concept is expressed. In the reading by Cortez named Sexile, we get a personal perspective from a story about an individual named Jorge but also known as Adela. Adela is on a path of self-discovery and also transition to becoming a woman. In the reading Global Divas, Manalansan expresses the border between bakla and gay.

In the reading Sexile, Adela, as mentioned, is on a path of self-discovery. Throughout the reading she is an individual by name of Jorge whom knew what she wanted for herself at a very young age. Expressed that she loved to have sex and thought at the age of 10 her penis would fall off and a vagina would form. He was judged at a very young age, boys would call her hurtful names, which can mess with someone self-esteem. At one point in the story, Adela participates in the school drag show, and she owned it!  She walked the catwalk and showed others who she was and whom she always wanted to be. Even when she was drafted, she dressed the way she wanted and showed whom she was and got sent back. On her form they stamped “Intelligible for service, Homosexual.” Although that’s what they identified her as, she was proud. She said, “I just felt like I had a right to be whoever I wanted to be.” (Cortez; 16). Later on in the story, Adela expressed to her peers that she wanted to change her gender and was put down, but in the end, she went through with the process and despite some of the outcomes of the transition, such as her becoming a whore, she overall became happy with whom she was.

In the reading Global Divas, Manalansan defines the term Bakla as a male whom is attracted to men. In the States, most would think of a male who is attracted to another male is what they call gay. In this case, it’s different. The Bakla men dress and act just like woman but you wouldn’t identify them as trans but Bakla. In the reading, it is said that the Bakla possesses a “female heart.” (Manalansan; 25).  It’s obvious to the difference between what we considered of men whom are attracted to other men than those who live in the Philippines. Not only does this give you a different perspective on gender identity but it also gives us a cultural perspective.  Although, there are some Bakla’s who don’t cross-dress, there are masculine Bakla’s as well. Bakla men fully accept who they are and what others see of them.

 

The concept of gender identity is greatly significant to transgender studies for the simple fact that transgender is identifying with a gender other than the biological one your assigned at birth. This class in itself has opened up my eyes in more ways than one. From different cultural perspectives, personal experiences labels, and hearing the thoughts of my classmates.  For people like Adela, despite their preference of identity, we are all humans and should be accepted for who we are.

Intro: Vanessa Reyes

Hello Everyone !
My name is Vanessa and Ive been at SFSU for three years now. I”m a Senior and I hope to graduate next semester. My major is Sociology and I’m hoping to have a long fulfilling career working with children. As corny as it sounds, children are our future and I’m hope to make an impact in their lives. I decided to take this class not only because I needed a elective course but to better understand the gay community. Thanks for reading ! (: