David LaFontaine writes: “This past year I piloted a course entitled ‘LGBT Themes in Literature’ at Massasoit Community College, where I have taught full-time in the English department for 25 years. This course is the first literature course devoted to this topic to be offered in any state college in Massachusetts. I decided to focus on classic authors whose sexuality served as a source of creative inspiration in their writing. Beginning with the sonnets of Shakespeare and concluding with the poetry of Mary Oliver, the course encourages students to utilize literature as a way to learn about and validate the experiences and history of LGBTQ people. Authors such as Lorraine Hansberry and
Carson McCullers are beginning to be understood more fully in terms of their sexuality. This is an exciting time in education for research and teaching pertaining to diversity. I welcome hearing from anyone who would enjoy learning more about the course and viewing the materials.”
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Class of 1980