Behind the mask of Super Queer
University student portrays gender-neutral superhero to raise awareness
By: Kristen Vasas
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Campus
Ze walks through the Union alone, a black and pink triangle mask hiding the chocolate-brown eyes that dominate hir narrow face.
A rainbow flag trails behind hir as students stare questioningly at the giant pink Q dominating the baggy T-shirt ze wears. Ze smiles in their direction, walks up to their table and asks them how the weather is.
Just another day in the life of Super Queer.
For senior Jennifer Dietsch, or Super Queer as she is known when in costume, living the life of a gay female can often feel like living behind a mask.
"I don't want any kid out there to cry every night like I did because they think they're a freak for being attracted to the same gender or sex," Dietsch said. "If there is someone in the closet out there who sees Super Queer and knows that gays are around on campus, then they might not be so scared when it's time for them to come out."
Super Queer, which has become the official mascot of the gay rights group Vision, was created by Dietsch after attending a pride fest in Indiana this summer. The superhero debuted on campus during a protest at Coming out Week in October.
"People would see me go past and be like, 'what the heck was that?'" she said. "That's when I started going up to protesters and talking to them about what I was representing."
The message behind Super Queer is aimed at creating awareness and understanding of queer issues on campus in a world that constantly blames homosexuality on personal choice, Dietsch said.
"I was raised in a situation where I should have been hetero, but something in my genetics or biological makeup made me attracted to girls," she said. "Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be more than friends with other girls."
Dietsch came out to herself when she was 16-years-old. But it wasn't until she was 18 that she felt comfortable enough to come out to friends and family members.
And though she acknowledges that her family loves her, she didn't get the warm reception she had hoped for after she first told her parents she was gay.
A rainbow flag trails behind hir as students stare questioningly at the giant pink Q dominating the baggy T-shirt ze wears. Ze smiles in their direction, walks up to their table and asks them how the weather is.
Just another day in the life of Super Queer.
For senior Jennifer Dietsch, or Super Queer as she is known when in costume, living the life of a gay female can often feel like living behind a mask.
"I don't want any kid out there to cry every night like I did because they think they're a freak for being attracted to the same gender or sex," Dietsch said. "If there is someone in the closet out there who sees Super Queer and knows that gays are around on campus, then they might not be so scared when it's time for them to come out."
Super Queer, which has become the official mascot of the gay rights group Vision, was created by Dietsch after attending a pride fest in Indiana this summer. The superhero debuted on campus during a protest at Coming out Week in October.
"People would see me go past and be like, 'what the heck was that?'" she said. "That's when I started going up to protesters and talking to them about what I was representing."
The message behind Super Queer is aimed at creating awareness and understanding of queer issues on campus in a world that constantly blames homosexuality on personal choice, Dietsch said.
"I was raised in a situation where I should have been hetero, but something in my genetics or biological makeup made me attracted to girls," she said. "Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be more than friends with other girls."
Dietsch came out to herself when she was 16-years-old. But it wasn't until she was 18 that she felt comfortable enough to come out to friends and family members.
And though she acknowledges that her family loves her, she didn't get the warm reception she had hoped for after she first told her parents she was gay.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Marlene Bomer
posted 2/27/08 @ 5:14 PM EST
YAYYYYYYYYYYYY Super Queer! Jen's character is just what BGSU needs to make Vision and activism visible on campus!!
For decades, visibility of GLBTs on campus has been limited to two to three weeks a year, and with Super Queer around, queer awareness is constant, just as signs of heterosexuality is visible every day. (Continued…)
Post a Comment