S. Bear Bergman
S. Bear Bergman: A Trailblazing Voice for LGBTQ+ Rights and Education
Full Name and Common Aliases
S. Bear Bergman is a Canadian author, educator, and activist known for his work in the areas of queer studies, LGBTQ+ rights, and radical social change.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on December 28, 1965, there is no available information on S. Bear Bergman's passing date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Bergman holds Canadian nationality and has worked as an author, educator, and activist throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a working-class family in rural Ontario, Canada, Bergman developed a strong sense of social justice from an early age. He was exposed to various forms of oppression and inequality, which would later inform his work as an advocate for marginalized communities.
As he navigated adolescence, Bergman began to explore his own identity and understanding of the world around him. This exploration led him to become increasingly involved in LGBTQ+ activism, recognizing the need for more inclusive and accepting environments.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Bergman has made significant contributions to various fields:
Queer Studies and Education: He co-founded the Institute for Queer Theory at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. This initiative aimed to foster a deeper understanding of queer experiences and promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity within academic settings.
LGBTQ+ Activism: Bergman has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, challenging societal norms and pushing boundaries through his writing and public speaking engagements.
Radical Social Change: His work often focuses on the intersections between social justice movements, highlighting the importance of solidarity and collective action.Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works by Bergman include:
The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You (2013): A collection of essays that explore themes of identity, community, and radical social change.
Blood, Milk, Thunder (2006): A memoir that delves into Bergman's personal experiences with queer identity, family, and social justice.Impact and Legacy
S. Bear Bergman's contributions to LGBTQ+ rights, education, and activism have had a lasting impact on the communities he has served:
Advancing Queer Studies: His work at the Institute for Queer Theory helped establish queer studies as a legitimate field of academic inquiry.
Inspiring Activism: Through his writing, public speaking, and community engagement, Bergman has empowered countless individuals to become involved in social justice movements.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
S. Bear Bergman is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Innovative Thinking: He challenges conventional norms and pushes boundaries through his work, inspiring others to do the same.
Emphasis on Community: Bergman's focus on building inclusive environments and fostering solidarity has had a lasting impact on LGBTQ+ communities.
Unwavering Commitment: His dedication to social justice movements serves as a model for activists and advocates around the world.
Quotes by S. Bear Bergman
This is partly my own ego, of course. I want to be visible as tough enough to possess and defend a femme who is entrancing enough to become the object of someone else’s desire, but it is equally a measure of protection for the femme in question. What if the same person sees her walking alone tomorrow?
You should move toward whatever changes, whatever surgeries, whatever renovations or alterations or restorations will create you in the glory you deserve, oh yes you should. And you should do it with your usual style, and you should do it without shame, and when you’re healed up and ready we can go shopping for something fabulous to showcase the many wonders of you.
Instead of wishing for the Field Guide, be glad to live in the beautiful chaos of each of us finding our way into our own gendered menu, our own identity, and our own name for it, which – if you will just love us while we do this complex and fragile part – we will kiss into your mouth with such gratitude when we’re through.
I live in a constellation of intimates, and the shape of us is a family. We touch base and check in, with each other and also – I am so gratified to report – they sometimes check in with one another. Correspondences have sprung up and friendships have started to form beyond my influence. Family has begun to take on a transitive property as well.
But if I can’t go from the body I have to a body that I am certain would feel very right – right like having wings would be or even right like wearing spats would be – then I think, maybe not for me.
If I am seen as a butch, or a man, I am now – to some minds – walking with someone who is under my protection and who is in my possession. Whatever critiques of gender and culture apply to that assumption, and they are numerous as the grains of sand, they do not always assert themselves in the walkaday world.
When people speak admiringly of a butch, what I see is someone who has taken on the best gendered characteristics of both woman and man, left a lot of the stuff born of misogyny and heterosexism behind, and walked forward into the world without apology.
One bright pansy popping through a sidewalk crack will get weeded or stepped on; it’s not until twenty fabulous flowers bust through and the pavement is ruined anyway that someone decides maybe it isn’t a sidewalk at all, but a flower garden. So please, for the love of gender – go bloom.
I live in a constellation of intimates, and the shape of us is a family. We touch base and check in, with each other and also—I am so gratified to report—they sometimes check in with one another. Correspondences have sprung up and friendships have started to form beyond my influence. Family has begun to take on a transitive property as well.
A real friend, he'd say, is the one who, when you say you need for them to kill someone for you, asks only, "And where did you want me to dump the body?" I understood that it was hyperbole, but I saw him do barely less more than once, to exhaust himself in research and effort to him his people. Which is how he divided the whole world: his people and everyone else.