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Home / Events / Spectrum Savvy: How Birds Exist Outside of Heterosexual and Cisgender Norms

Spectrum Savvy: How Birds Exist Outside of Heterosexual and Cisgender Norms

Have you ever wondered about LGBTQIA+ presence in the animal kingdom?

Join us to learn about the birds that exist outside of heteronormative human ideas and family structures. We’ll begin by examining how western social expectations impact ornithology, academic science, and LGBTQIA+ birders. Then we’ll discuss specific examples of bird species that have demonstrated queer behaviors or that exist in “non-traditional” family units. From gay swan foster parents to matriarchal hawk families and same-sex penguin couples, birds have a diverse array of relationship and family styles just like us!

Taught by queer birder and naturalist Kate Kohut, this class is a safe space where all are welcome. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally, anyone looking to increase their understanding of the bird world is welcome in this inclusive space!

Two Chinstrap Penguins stand facing one another.
Chinstrap Penguin, photo by Paul Balfe

Have you ever wondered about LGBTQIA+ presence in the animal kingdom?

Join us to learn about the birds that exist outside of heteronormative human ideas and family structures. From gay swan foster parents to matriarchal hawk families and same-sex penguin couples, birds have a diverse array of relationship and family styles just like us!

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Class Details

    • Class: February 21, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
    • Class fee: $20 members / $30 non-members
    • Note: Class recordings will be sent out automatically to everyone who registered post-class. Thank you!
Meet the Instructor

Kate Kohut

Kate is a recent transplant to Portland, moving here in August with her partner and dog, after living in Utah and Idaho for several years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Conservation Biology at the University of Rhode Island in 2017, where she discovered her love of birding and recently earned her Master's of Natural Resources specializing in Science Communication at University of Idaho's McCall Outdoor Science School. Over the past few years, she has worked as a bird-focused environmental educator at Bird Alliance of Oregon New York and Tracy Aviary's Jordan River Nature Center in Salt Lake City, where she worked to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the urban environment, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals. She is passionate about equity and social justice and believes that birding and spending time outside has the power to connect people with not just the land around them, but with each other as well. Kate is extremely excited to settle down in Portland and can't wait to become part of the birding community here! In her spare time, Kate enjoys cooking, catch and release fly fishing, and training her newly adopted pup!

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Details

Date:
February 21, 2022
Time:
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Event Categories:
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Venue

Bird Alliance of Oregon
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210 United States
Cost:
$20 – $30

Venue

Bird Alliance of Oregon
5151 NW Cornell Road
Portland, OR 97210 United States
Cost:
$20 – $30

Organizer

Tara Lemezis
Email:
tlemezis@birdallianceoregon.org

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