“History and Homosexuality in the Middle East: A Panel Discussion” will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Chao Auditorium, Ekstrom Library. Part of the Louis Gottschalk lecture series in history, the event and reception afterward are free and public but reservations are requested by Feb. 21 at http://louisville.edu/history/2014-louis-r-gottschalk-lecture
Panelists will discuss their differing viewpoints about the past as well as how they view the movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and visibility in the Middle East today. The speakers are expected to debate the question of when homosexuality appeared in the Middle East.
Panelists will be Samar Habib, University of London; Joseph Massad, Columbia University; and Everett Rowson, New York University.
The history department hosts the Gottschalk lectures to promote the study of history and to honor Gottschalk, a former UofL professor and American Historical Association president. This year’s main sponsors include UofL’s Middle East and Islamic studies program and the Liberal Studies Project, as well as several other departments and programs of the College of Arts and Sciences, the McConnell Center and the LGBT Center.
For more information, including details about live streaming. blogging and Twitter questions during the event, check http://louisville.edu/history/2014-louis-r-gottschalk-lecture or contact Daniel Krebs at daniel.krebs@louisville.edu or 502-852-4368.