Rest in peace, Genderfuck

We at the Phoenix want to support the school’s decision to cancel Genderfuck this year. As members of Swarthmore Queer Union expressed in a recent op-ed, the annual party has become extremely distanced from its original intent in recent years. The mission of the party at its inception was to create a space for students to explore gender expression beyond the boundaries of traditional masculinity and femininity. But the party had become something of an excuse for straight students to either perform a fetishized idea of what it means to be queer, or to simply wear as little clothing as possible. Neither of these options is in keeping with the end towards which Genderfuck was designed. We commend the administration for acknowledging this shift and working with students to develop another option for a Spring Party.