Horror as a Pedagogical Tool for Teaching Sexualities

Abstract

Teaching about sexualities and the LGBTQ+ movement today is full of pitfalls and possibilities. While growing acceptance of at least some segments of the LGBTQ+ community means students are more open to talking about these issues than ever before, two serious barriers remain: (1) The rise of Trump has empowered antagonistic students to utilize the tools of the neoliberal university to retaliate against sexualities instructors, and (2) even more-accepting students often struggle to have nuanced conversations about sexualities that acknowledge diversity and are not ahistorical. Horror can be used to overcome these barriers, illustrating the extent of LGBTQ+ marginalization for more-resistant students while helping others see that sexuality is socially constructed and historically mediated. This article will begin with a theoretical overview of how the horror genre illustrates changing social attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community and highlights the challenges faced by diverse identities under the umbrella before ending with practical suggestions for incorporating these lessons into the classroom.