JM Jaffe is interested in sex. We mean really interested in sex. This Friday at 6 p.m. in Albritton 311 they will be leading a sexual health workshop, and consequently breaking gender norms and binaries like nobody’s business. A self-described “gss/biologywesgrad/gendertrashstoner/twinkyboydyke/overalltrannyfag,” Jaffe dropped by our offices last night to talk about their future plans, their brief stint in alumni band Red Wire Black Wire, and their love of Jamaica.
Argus: So tell us about this sex workshop you’re leading tomorrow.
JM Jaffe: It’s called “Cum Learn About Cumming.” I’m going to be talking about the biology of sex in female bodies and male bodies and people in between. People have a lot of misconceptions about our genitals and how they work. I think it’s something that’s not really talked about. As biology and feminist studies double major I’m in a position where I can ideally put them together.
A: What have you been doing on campus since graduation?
JJ: I was enrolled in the 5th year B.A./M.A. program. But I realized it was going to be another year after the 5th year, and I already had a plan to move to California.
A: What’s in California?
JJ: I have this job as a booking agent for queer performance artists. I’ve been doing a lot of booking on campus. I organized a show with DJ JD Samson, Athens Boy Choir, and Katastrophe with the help of the Queer/Trans collective. I’ll be working on that full time when I’m out there.
A: Didn’t you used to be in that band Red Wire Black Wire?
JJ: Yeah. Doug [Walters ’08] lived across the hall from me when I was a freshmen and he was a sophomore in WestCo. We started Red Wire Black Wire out of some songs Doug had made up himself, and Zac Meyer ’08, Ted Feldman ’09, and Dave Snydacker ’09. We just jammed a few times and formed a band. We started playing shows. We played Zonker Harris Day. We opened for Andrew WK at Spring Fling— that was really awesome. Now I’m actually not in the band. I quit a few years ago. I’m actually now with The Creeps. We played “PNK@DKE.”
A: Why did you quit?
JJ: I don’t know if I should say. It had a lot to do with Doug. He was very insistent on calling the band his project. Other band members were kind of expendable. If you were late for a show he would get mad that you were hurting his career.
A: What’s that a tattoo of on your arm?
JJ: Wisconsin
A: I saw on Facebook that you used to have dreadlocks. What was that about?
JJ: That’s kind of a creepy question.
A: Sorry, I was just doing some background research.
JJ: Well, I had the dreadlocks for three or four years, from my junior year in high school when I started them till sophomore year at Wes when I cut them off. It’s a family thing. My sister also has them. We go to Jamaica a lot. It was a big part of our childhood.
A: Do you think Wesleyan has changed in the last five years?
JJ: Ooh that’s a great question. I do think Wesleyan’s changed actually. On the first nice day of spring I went out to Foss Hill and sat down and was going to enjoy myself. Then everyone came out. I looked at the student body and it was a J.Crew catalogue. It was straight out of Urban Outfitters or something. I just feel like people used to care a lot less about their clothing. I feel like everybody’s wearing such nice things all the time, maybe it’s just the spring. I don’t know if it’s jock culture, or a class thing, but something’s changing.
A: What do you think about Mocon nostalgia?
JJ: Oh man, I don’t know. I loved Mocon, and Dave, the guy who used to make grilled cheese
A: I think he’s at Usdan now.
JJ: Usdan scares me.