Students and faculty gathered at San Francisco State University on Tuesday to share slideshows of realistic dildos and lesbian collages while spreading awareness and research on racism, gender and sexuality.

The Health Equity Institute and sexuality studies department at SFSU hosted yesterday’s symposium, “The Show Goes On!” as the first of two events this month in HSS 233. The event was co-organized by Dr. Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, a professor of sociology and sexuality studies, and Dr. William Clark, assistant professor in the sociology and sexuality studies department. The symposium was funded by the HEI, a campuswide institute focused on health and well-being, with director Laura Mamo attending and speaking at the event. 

“Two years ago with the support of our college and the dean, we were able to work really closely with the center for research and education on gender and sexuality to ensure that this work that’s so strong and important on our campus can continue under the banner of the Health Equity Institute,” Mamo said.  

A variety of master’s students and faculty were given the opportunity to present their findings on gender and sexuality related research thanks to the HEI funding. 

Trinh Le, a creative writing graduate student and teaching associate, spoke about their experience working within the Bay Area Lesbian Archives, a nonprofit organization that works to preserve lesbian history in the Bay Area.

“We receive our donations from the community: lesbians, friends, women, transmen and more who are looking to establish not only a legacy, but a lineage,” Le said. “Thinking about the concept of chosen family… for me as a Vietnamese person, my understanding of family is everyone who came before me.”

Le was not the only speaker whose presentation revolved around the importance of preserving queer history. Camryn Cook, a master’s student in the department of human sexuality, shared information on Aegis, an accessible digital archive focusing on protecting transgender history from erasure and censorship.

“Knowing these histories is very important to ensure the health and well-being of trans communities going forward. Lack of accessibility has contributed much to widespread ignorance and misunderstanding,” Cook said. “This project is a love letter to the histories that are purposely neglected and censored. The past must be preserved in order to pave the way for a better and healthier future.” 

The presentations ranged dramatically, from touching on history preservation for queer communities, to the use of sex toys as a discursive technology of sexual racism.

Jeanea Ramirez, a master’s student in sexuality studies, presented “Plastic, Phallic, Color Palettes,” analyzing realistic dildos and how playing into the fantasy of realism comes at the expense of sexual racism and fetishization. 

“Out of all 36, there is only one ‘Asian’ one, the K-pop star. Looking at him [in the photo on the dildo packaging], he is emasculated, timid, his clothes are loose-fitting, and his muscles aren’t showing. In the description, he’s ready to make some sweet musical magic with you… all of the other ones have sexual innuendos in them,” Ramirez said. “The cowboy one says ‘you’re gonna ride the cowboy all night.’”

Ramirez pointed out how East Asian representation differed largely compared to other races depicted on realistic dildos. Other Asian ethnicities, such as South Asians, were not depicted at all. Ramirez also included examples regarding Latin men as portrayed on dildos, and the fetishization of Asian women within porn. 

“I want y’all to think about how you see normative whiteness being upheld in daily life in little ways or very obvious ways,” Ramirez said. “Proper representation found in sexual racism signifies belongingness for marginalized identities even in the most intimate spheres.”

Ramirez’s presentation was one of many that spoke on representation and inclusivity, tying racism into the conversation of gender and sexuality. 

Dr. Cynthia Martinez, assistant professor in the counseling department, steered the subject away from sexuality, speaking on implications of gender and the lack of funding for Latinx families and African American parents at Bay Area schools. 

Martinez ran what she called “non-traditional, therapeutic, school-based family wellness groups.” She found that mothers working full-time jobs and single parents participated in the groups the most. 

“It would be interesting to look at gender disparities,” Martinez said. “Prioritzing this for folks to create programs for women, expanding this to be more gender expansive… maybe eventually expanding some of this work so that we can actually get in and talk to school districts, local, state and federal governments to fund some of this work.”

Mothers in Martinez’s therapy groups found the meetings empowering and spread the word to their husbands and neighbors. The meetings were often driven by parents themselves, bringing up subjects that they felt were important such as immigration know-your-rights talks or opportunities to present issues with behavior management. 

“These groups really created a sense of community with families that was never present before,” Martinez said. “There’s mothers, there’s more teachers in the classroom. The superintendents and administrators are usually men…maybe if we got more representation of the folks who are in this school and work with their children they’ll read more into funding these types of programs.”

Several other speakers also presented ideas on inclusivity and representation, contributing to the main idea that community is necessary in the world today.

“In these times of austerity and fascism on our campus, seeing everyone together is really important,” Clark said.

The second showing of this year’s series will be held in HSS 233 on April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring new speakers that will cover Latina immigrant girls, women’s aesthetics and more.