Centering the “T”: Envisioning a Trans Jotería Pedagogy

Abstract

In this piece, the author reflects on his Trans Chicanx identity and how his embodiment shapes his teaching and pedagogy. The author begins with a spoken word piece that captures his journey to his own trans-conocimiento. Then the author looks to the foundational work of Chicana/Latina Feminist pedagogies and transpedagogies to envision a trans joteria pedagogy that centers trans migrants—and trans women and people of color—that is grounded in disruption and vulnerability through the unsettling of borders and binaries tied to systems of power. In doing so, the author reflects on his trans joteria praxis in the classroom and through his podcast Anzalduing It. The author concludes with looking to the tensions that arise when disruptions of systems of power are central to teaching and pedagogy and highlights the vulnerability necessary of both teacher and student to embark on consciousness raising and healing exchange.