LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

CU Denver is one of the many universities found across the country that prides itself on its diversity within its student population, professors, and other faculty: and for good reason. At CU, students of all backgrounds and identities have come together to be able to share their stories, build and refine important bodies of research, create magnificent projects, and much more. Adding to this collaboration, queer & transgender students are one such portion of the student population that offer new perspectives into education, culture, and especially gendered identity.

Archer is one of the many transgender students enrolled at CU Denver who is registered with the College of Arts & Media. He’s working as a Learning Hub Ambassador at the Learning Resource Center as well as involved in a rigorous internship which gives him experience in visual design catered towards video game development. Within his artistic practice, he makes beautiful illustrations that use painterly rendering styles that really heighten his focus on the human form and the complexity of human relationships. Here is an example of some of his most recent works:

We had the pleasure of sitting down and asking him more about his personal insight and story. There are many different names that have been used to describe his community,  but ultimately he finds the most freedom in one particular label. "I love the word queer. I have always found it to be the most freeing label offered by the community. Sometimes, I think that having a name for our community is restrictive in itself, but understanding that sometimes it’s necessary, I find that queer truly allows for the fluidity and variety of identity and experience that the community encompasses. The word queer has had a sorted history, but today I think that it allows people to be themselves without restricting themselves into boxes, and I think that’s beautiful."

When asked about where this community lies, Archer said, "I feel like, probably due in part to being a CAM student, I’ve really found a community of queer people here. There are a lot of queer people in the arts programs, though I’ve also met people outside CAM that share in my queer identity. Attending CU Denver has allowed me to really meet a larger group of queer identifying people, and it makes me feel very safe in class and on campus."

That isn’t to paint being a queer trans person in the world as entirely rose-colored. Within navigating relationships with other students professors, there can still be moments of miscommunication and friction that come up, even when people are as well-meaning as possible. "Honestly, sometimes it can be difficult. I’m lucky that I have found some wonderful trans friends here, but the reality is that due in part to my expression and identity, not everyone sees me for who I am. It’s something I’ve learned to accept, but it can make it difficult to reach out and learn more about people I don’t know are ‘safe’."

Part of the way to navigate around these issues, whether you’re queer yourself or an ally, is to learn more about and engage with queer ideas and history and to find the power within them. If there is one thing Archer wishes more people understood about being trans, it would be "that being transgender is not nearly as simple as you might think." He went on to say, "Gender is a complicated beast, and I think that it being simplified does a lot of damage to my community. It’s not just going from point A to point B, it’s a journey that’s different for every person and it’s important to understand that."

There’s also notedly as much joy in gender euphoria for Archer as there is sometimes the difficulties of gender dysphoria, a part of the transgender experience which oftentimes doesn’t get as much publicity or recognition in the mainstream. Archer says that if he could describe his gender expression in one word, it would be goth! "My identity as a goth person goes hand in hand with my gender and expression, largely due to the gender queer presentation of goth fashion in general. I love playing with my expression through my clothes and makeup, and the androgyny of goth fashion makes me feel safe to present how I want."  He can find happiness in dressing up, getting tattoos, and even "kind of silly" displays like using three-in-one soaps and faded red hoodies.  "I find that some of the most random things can bring about euphoria, and it’s important to me to focus on the euphoria I get from these things. It makes me proud and happy to be who I am."

His message and advice to students who may be closeted or questioning, as well as out students like him who may still struggle to gain acceptance, is one of empowerment. "No matter what, there is always a place for you somewhere. No matter who you are, no matter what your identity is or how you experience the world, there are people out there who will embrace you. You might have to reach out and put yourself out there, but in the end, it’s worth it, because you’re going to find where you feel safest and happiest."