Arts Agenda - Gender blender

Writing about Kate Bornstein requires an extra amount of diligence. The playwright, performance artist and self-dubbed “gender outlaw” identifies as neither man nor woman. Using pronouns like “hir” and “ze,” Bornstein challenges not just societal mores but also the basic constructs of language.

“In this culture, the rule says you’re either a man or a woman and that’s that,” Bornstein says. “But based on what? The easiest way to break the rules of gender in our culture is to ask questions about it, because our culture will not permit questions.”

Bornstein will share hir rule-breaking take on gender ideology with a four-day visit as artist-in-residence at Oglethorpe University. The actor-cum-activist will hold workshops with theater students, make classroom visits and present Kate Bornstein on Men, Women and Rest of Us, a solo performance that’s open to the public.

Born a boy near Fargo, N.D., Bornstein underwent a gender change as an adult. But after few years of living as a woman, she decided to take the third route and live life as neither. She’s since written books on gender theory and is about to begin a West Coast tour of Two Tall Blondes in LOVE, a play written with sex activist Barbara Carrellas.

In her lecture, Bornstein relates the story of her journey to gender outlaw with a blend of humor and pathos. She also adds two hard-hitting segments of slam poetry to the eclectic performance.

“I hate lectures, so I don’t do lectures anymore,” Bornstein says. “I do ‘edutainment.’ It’s that software category, like ‘Where in the World is Carmen San Diego,’ except this is ‘What in the World is Kate Bornstein.’”

Kate Bornstein on Men, Women and the Rest of Us will be held Jan. 25 at 8 p.m. at the Conant Performing Arts Center at Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Road. $15. 404-504-1074. Bornstein will also appear at Charis Books, 1189 Euclid Ave., Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. 404-524-0304.??