As I've mentioned, I've been slaving on my Masters and researching about the issues confronting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students in public school. For the past month I've read over 80 research articles and wrote half of my proposal paper, which is at 35 pages so far. The second month of the program includes an activity that makes you produce some sort of social change, an application to the real world. Some people did webpages that act as informational sites; others have done games or curriculum guidelines, pamphlets or picture books. I've decided to do a comic strip.
My story is about Tim Triangle, a triangle going to a school full of squares. He has to succeed in an environment that rewards you if you're a square and ignores and demeans you, if you're a triangle. It'll also feature Brutus, the meanest reddest square bully that is often the root of Tim's misery. Then there's the well meaning but ignorant principal, Mr. Mumzies. There's also going to be a Triangle teacher, Mr. Rivers, who tries to look like a square by wearing a cardboard box to look like a square. He's going to represent all the in the closet teachers in the world that could act as possible role models, but hide in shame. What I'll do is when I get a lot finish I'll post the strips up on the site little by little.
I'm really excited about this work, and it actually does not feel like work. I intend to put a lot of effort in it, and maybe if it's good enough I'll send it to GLBT organizations like GLSEN to hopefully promote GLBT issues.
UPDATE: Here's my first strip! Hopefully with many more to come.
