Near Queer is a space committed to the following three principles. 

Read Closely

Listen. Read. Listen again. Close readings are invitation to engage seriously with the wealth of words around us.  Reading closely means utilizing on our histories to inform our readings, and trusting ourselves to feel what needs to be felt.

There is no such thing as a ‘reading-too-much-into-it ‘ reading.

Bridge Across

Communities overlap, bodies of knowledge permeate into each other, and borders are stupid. Because it’s new to you doesn’t mean it’s new; this is why bridging is needed. Bring people to the table, or throw out the table altogether. Elevate and strive to understand the work of the underrepresented, the persecuted, and of the erased.  Bridging takes work – all too often, this work is listening.

Build Together

Contribute something. Takeaways are nice but do something with it. Plant it, share it, or nurture it. Solidarity is not about ownership or authorship: think instead about open access, cooperation, and mutual support.

About me

Arturo Agüero is an artist, educator, and researcher raised on both sides of the México/ US border and currently based in Austin, TX.  He has taught internationally using community and arts-based approaches in a variety formal and informal settings specializing in work with early childhood and early elementary aged children.  Agüero earned both his BFA in visual art studies and his MA in cultural studies in education from the University of Texas at Austin. His research interests in the fields of bilingual education, children’s media, and queerness shape not only his teaching practices, but also his work outside the classroom. Arturo facilitates educator workshops about intersectional social justice, speaks at conferences regarding childhood, queerness, and education and also works with schools to develop policies and programing on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion.