Torrin A. Greathouse, a transgender “cripple-punk” poet and essayist, brought Stewart Hall to life when they read their poems to students and faculty on Wednesday night.

The event, hosted by the English department as part of Trans Week of Visibility, drew a large crowd and quickly filled seats. 

Director of First-Year Writing Nicole Santalucia began the event by speaking about the importance of Trans Week of Visibility and poetry. 

“We tend to forget our humanity,” Santalucia said.

Santalucia then invited Cynthia Dodd, a French secondary education major and writing fellow, onto the stage. Dodd talked about their experiences through middle and high school before inviting Jean Stinchfield, an English major and writing fellow, onstage.

Stinchfield talked about the importance of advocacy, especially trans and disability advocacy, before introducing Greathouse. 

“To be trans is an act of creation,” Stinchfield said while quoting Greathouse’s book, “Wound from the Mouth of a Wound.”

Throughout the evening, Greathouse read several of their poems, such as “Etymythology,” “Vanitas Vanitatum,” “An Ugly Poem” and others. 

Greathouse also read poems from their upcoming book, “DEED,” which will release on Aug. 20, 2024. 

When asked for advice they would give to people about supporting trans women, Greathouse emphasized self-education. “Honestly, a big thing is just not making that person your sole source of information on trans people and the trans community,” Greathouse said. “Go out. Go to your local library, find and read books by trans people, by trans women.”

Once the Q&A session concluded, students received free copies of “Wound from the Mouth of a Wound,” and Greathouse offered to sign copies.

The Pride and Gender Equity Center, the Women’s and Gender Studies department and Office of Multicultural Student Affairs  have collaborated to host the “Still I Rise” Women’s History open mic night. Students can sign up to read, sing or speak at the open mic on Monday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. in McFeely’s Coffeehouse.

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