To learn more about my research project Who Needs Gay Bars?, I’ve written the following pieces of public scholarship which are available at the links below: 2018. with Tory Sparks OC’17. “‘We Have a Gay Bar Here.’ You Don’t Need a Coast to be Cosmopolitan,” in Red State Blues: Stories from Midwestern Life on the … More Public essays on gay bars
The piece I wrote for Belt Magazine about the loss of my favorite gay bar has now been used by two artists to explore gentrification in Cleveland’s Hingetown neighborhood. Danny Volk interviewed me for his piece called Cruising, which used smartphones’ geolocating technology to sonically take listeners back to earlier versions of the neighborhood. It’s … More The poignant queer art of gentrification
(updated July 30th) This summer, my research assistant Jack Spector Bishop and I are completing the interviews for my book on gay bars. I just completed a road trip through New England, bringing my total to 106 interviewees in 33 states. If you or someone you love owns or manages a gay bar in WA, … More Gay bar book interviews 2018
I’m teaching my sociology of sexuality class this semester. I often leave a gap in the syllabus for students to pick a topic that hasn’t been addressed. It helps me learn new things from them, respond to current events, and fill in the topical gaps for a class that students’ in which students are often … More Teaching Weinstein, Spacey, Sexual Assault, and New Skirmishes in Old Sex Wars
American Journal of Sociology: “well-researched and compelling,” “Mattson’s use of key informant interviews provides a specific and substantial contribution to our understanding of how social problems are articulated ‘in the trenches’ by activists and bureaucrats.” European Union Studies Association Review: “intriguing,” “striking insights,” “an absorbing and welcome contribution to prostitution policy analysis,” “truly innovative in … More Reviews of my book
(Posted Sept. 13, updated Sept 16). This post tracked early responses to to Wang and Kosinski’s preprint paper that claimed their deep neural network’s ability to identify gay faces was evidence of the prenatal hormone theory of homosexuality, and exposed heretofore unknown threats to LGBTQ people in authoritarian regimes. My Sept. 9 blog post critiquing … More Tracking Wang and Kosinski’s AI Gayface Controversy
I just finished the first draft of a map of all lesbian bars in the U.S. and Canada that closed from 2006 until now. It may not be the most depressing map of the 21st century, but it is seriously sobering: The Map depicts 93 100 addresses (as of 9/27/2016) that no longer are lesbian … More Mapping lost lesbian bars, 2006-2016
Attending ILiADs this week to work on http://onprostitution.oberlincollegelibrary.org with my Oberlin College colleagues Libby Murphy and Meghan Mitchell.
AIDS Taskforce Our center welcomes everyone whether they have HIV or not Ambiance Our home-grown erotic boutique has a wide range of condoms, restraints, and women’s lingerie at several suburban shops b.a. Sweetie Sugar babies and chocolate galore at the nation’s largest candy store Blow Hair & Nail Spa Sit back and relax and … More The Closet Queen’s Guide to Cleveland for the 2016 RNC
Dear Chief Whitely, What measures has the Elyria police department taken to address racial bias in policing? I avoid the city since I was involved in two unprovoked police stops. My boyfriend was pulled over outside Olive Garden where we shared a Valentine’s Day meal. The officer accused him of dealing drugs to me. I … More Open letter to Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitely
