Alternative Sexuality

Alternative Sexuality (AOS). Behaviors, identities, and communities that stand in contrast and/or opposition to socially and culturally dominant sexualities. Alternative sexuality (ASO) is a term that can include non-heteronormative sexual orientations, such as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer, or behaviors that deviate from societal expectations of heterosexual relationships. The alternative sexuality community is diverse and includes a range of sexual orientation identities

According to the syllabus for UGIS 20AC: “Alternative Sexual Identities and Communities in the Contemporary United States” taught by Dr. Martin Meeker, “Alternative sexuality” is defined in this course as behaviors, identities, and communities that stand in contrast and/or opposition to socially and culturally dominant sexualities. Once clarifying these concepts during the first week, we will examine closely a variety of “alternative” sexualities including fairies, prostitutes, blues singers, bohemians, homophiles, lesbian-feminists, transsexuals, gay clones, queer people of color, bisexuals, and gay college students. As part of the American Cultures requirement this course does not consider alternative sexualities in isolation, but rather examines how sexuality influences the formation of racial and ethnic identities as well as how race and ethnicity influence the emergence and transformation of alternative sexualities.” These parallel themes run throughout the course and will be a key component of lectures, readings, discussions, exams, and writing assignments.”