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45th Annual Gender Studies Symposium

RESIST NOW!
March 11–13, 2026

  • Purple rectangle with tan wording RESIST NOW!, and pencil drawings of protest images
  • Female hugging a female student at podium while another looks on, smiling
    Kelly Hayes with GSS co-chairs Amber Kase and Avarie Goerling
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • perspective of speaker at podium from darkened theater seating
    Keynote speaker Kelly Hayes addresses audience in Council Chamber
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • Female at podium, in front of large screen with images
    Thursday’s keynote presentation by Sophie Lewis
    Credit: Amber Kase
  • Two females seting at bistro table while one signs a book.
    Keynote Sophie Lewis at book signing
    Credit: Amber Kase
  • Two students at a podium, with a large screen nearby with a Kink as Reistance image, and seated students looking on.
    Workshop: Kink as Radical Queer Practice and How to Cultivate It, facilitated by Natalie Connelly, L&C ’26, and Fellow Moratti, L&C ’26
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • Students viewing items from library special collections on tables.
    Students view rare books at Watzek Library as part of "Stories of Resistance from the Archives"
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • Seated students, all reading the same book.
    Reading and reception for the 2026 edition of Synergia: Journal of Gender Thought and Expression
    Credit: Gigi April
  • 6 students at a podium
    Art curators address guests at the opening reception
    Credit: Gigi April
  • A female at a podium, next to a table with 4 seated panelists.
    "Listening for Trans and Nonbinary Experiences" panel
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • People seated at tables working with paper, guided by a person next to a screen with images.
    Elio Curtis, L&C ’28, facilitates a zinemaking workshop
  • Symposium co-chairs at the Transgressors exhibition in the Hoffman Gallery
    Symposium co-chairs at the Transgressors exhibition in the Hoffman Gallery
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • A person with white face on their knees, surrounded by 3 people holding shields painted like brick walls.
    ClownBloc performs Radical Joy
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • person observing art on pedestals.
    A student surveys the Gender Studies Symposium Art Exhibit in the Watzek Library atrium
  • Students seated at a table next to art mounted on the wall.
    Art on display in Watzek Library for the Gender Studies Symposium art exhibit
  • Woman with hands raised at podium that says Lewis & Clark.
    Keynote speaker Kelly Hayes
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • A rare book display in the foreground, and students observing other books in the background.
    A rare book is displayed during a symposium workshop
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • two adults looking at art posted on the wall.
    Viewing the Transgressors exhibit
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • Colorful van converted into bookmobile parked on college campus.
    Free Society People’s Library Bookmobile on campus
  • 5 women posing arm-in-arm in front of a staircase.
    Sophie Lewis and the 2026 co-chairs
  • People standing around a table display.
    Workshop: Kink as Radical Queer Practice and How to Cultivate It
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • Three females standing together holding a copy of the same book.
    The editors of this year’s edition of Synergia
    Credit: Gigi April
  • A table covered with supplies for zinemaking
    Zinemaking workshop
    Credit: Gigi April
  • 2 people in made up as clowns, seated, and 4 people behind them posing with various props.
    The ClownBloc performers
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • People seated in chairs at table, viewing 3 people in the front at a podium.
    Co-chairs addressing guests at the opening reception
    Credit: Gigi April
  • A woman standing at a poidum in front of a large screen.
    Keynote speaker Sophie Lewis
    Credit: Amber Kase
  • Six people standing together inconversation in front of a sign that says Transgressors.
    Symposium co-chairs with Felix Furby, one of the Transgressors exhibition curators
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • A group of 5 people gathered around a table of items from an archive collection.
    Presenters and participants at "Stories of Resistance from the Archives" in the Watzek Library Special Collections Reading Room
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • Eight students seated around a table with art supplies.
    Students participate in an activity for the Transgressors exhibition
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • A woman speaks into a microphone at a podium while a seated woman next to her looks on.
    Co-chair Avarie Goerling ’27 introduces keynote Kelly Hayes
    Credit: Claire Agatep
  • A group of people standing in a circle.
    Students participating in the ClownBloc workshop
    Credit: Vada Chambers
  • Four stmiling women posing for a photo standing arm-in-arm
    The 2026 Gender Studies Symposium co-chairs
    Credit: Vada Chambers
2026 Gender Studies Symposium photos

We find ourselves living in challenging times. Moved by the present moment, the 45th annual Gender Studies Symposium will explore dimensions of resistance, activism, and solidarity in relation to gender and sexuality. Using feminist, queer, and trans theoretical framings, we aim to examine all facets of resistance, whether those are small, everyday acts, long-term movements, or historical rebellions.

Building upon conversations from the 22nd annual Ray Warren Symposium on Race and Ethnic Studies in November, we hope that investigating these forms of resistance will generate better understandings of the power we hold to cultivate change, and also remind ourselves that resistance is everywhere if we look hard enough. There is no one way to resist or rebel. Questions that we aim to explore include the following:

  • How do we define resistance? How do we differentiate acts of resistance from other actions? What does feminist, queer, and trans resistance look like?
  • What does resistance look like for the individual, and what does it look like for a collective?
  • How do we cultivate resistance, and what are the obstacles we face?
  • How do we endure, thrive, and persist in times of struggle? How do we practice care as an act of resistance for ourselves and our communities? What is the place of rage, grief, joy, and hope?
  • How do we build coalitional movements based in trust? What does it mean to be in solidarity?
  • What can we learn from past and present examples of feminist, queer, and trans resistance struggles, mutual aid practices, and rebellion?
  • What is the place of identity in our modes and forms of resistance? In what ways can identities serve as the springboard or foundation for activist organizing, and in what ways can identities be barriers?

This symposium will serve as a space that renews our courage to care for one another and replenishes our strength in fighting for a better world. Every step is a step we take together.

  • Mallory posing outside the Manor House, wearing a white sweater and red glasses.

    Being a cochair for this year’s symposium has been an amazing experience. Working with my fellow cochairs and the larger community this semester has been a great way to hear people’s ideas of what they’d like to see and how we can put on events that people will be excited about.

    Mallory McMullan BA ’27
    Chicago, Illinois
    More about Mallory
  • Avarie posing outside the Manor House, wearing a black sweater.

    This year’s symposium has been such an incredible experience. The planning process has sparked such creativity and inspiration within my everyday life. This year’s theme feels so important and will continuously connect to areas outside of gender studies.

    Avarie Goerling BA ’27
    Hillsboro, Oregon
    More about Avarie
  • Kindle posing outside the Manor House, wearing a dark coat and brown scarf.

    I have had such a wonderful experience as a cochair. It is a lot of work, but it is so worth it. Seeing our work come to fruition is an incredible feeling!

    Kindle Murray BA ’26
    Bonney Lake, Washington
    More about Kindle
  • Amber posing outside the Manor House wearing a white dress.

    Considering the current climate of the world, this year’s symposium is focusing on building solidarity, educating others on mutual aid, sharing stories of resistance, and teaching others about how they can resist. I hope to carry on these lessons into my future classrooms, sharing ideas of diversity, equality, and solidarity. 

    Amber Kase BA ’27
    Los Angeles, California
    More about Amber

email 

voice 503-768-7678 
fax 503-768-7379 

Director: Kimberly Brodkin

  • Gender Studies Symposium
    Lewis & Clark
    615 S. Palatine Hill Road 
    Portland OR 97219