Call for Submissions
This Bridge Called My Body (Edited by Kim Watson, Trystan Cotten and Riki Wilchins)
Groundbreaking anthology of Black Trans* Womanist thought on the pleasures and challenges of gender and sexual embodiment
We live at a time that is supposed to be a “transgender tipping point, when we see national voices like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock, and yet we also read weekly about the epidemic of violence against trans* women of color. Trans* women of color seem to be locked in the popular imagination as either celebrities or victims, yet their authentic voices are seldom heard. Their representation within academic articles is no better, even as studies written by trans* men of color are finally getting more attention, very little is published from a Black or brown trans* feminist perspective. When we do hear from or about trans* women of color, it is often stories of imprisonment, or about their surgical status (or lack of any), or about a tragedy. We never hear about their joy or their strength and resilience in their own words. Perhaps most importantly, we don’t hear about their sense of gendered sexuality and pleasure. Navigating a landscape fraught with racism and injustice, how do trans* women of color find love and acceptance, learn to embrace their own bodies (or not). For pre-op, post-op and non-op trans* women of color, how do they navigate sexual and romantic intimacy? What ae the joys, pleasures, and challenges and—for those who undergo hormones and/or surgery —how does a changing body shift sexuality and/or intimacy? The book is intended to be a first-ever exploration of this topic.
Possible topic areas can include (but are not limited to: Negotiating intimacy/negotiating sex; Sexuality and HIV/AIDS; Embodiment in the age of icons like Janet and Laverne; Surgical vs non-surgical embodiment; Anti-Black stereotypes of trans* sex work; Fetishization of the Black transfem body; Reading feminine back into Black trans* studies, Paris Is Burning/Posing—Black transfem beyond the balls; Surviving racism in white communities & transphobia in communities of color; Dealing with sexual trauma; Black trans* women and the Black church, Black trans* fem and lesbian culture; Black trans* fem voice in feminism? Gay effeminacy vs trans* femininity in communities of color.
Academic credentials are not necessary. Please feel free to share questions or ideas in advance.
All submissions are welcome and will be considered. Maximum word count 7,000
Deadline for submissions is December 1st, 2021
Email submissions to: BridgeCalledMyBody@gmail.com
This Bridge Called My Body (Edited by Kim Watson, Trystan Cotten and Riki Wilchins)
Groundbreaking anthology of Black Trans* Womanist thought on the pleasures and challenges of gender and sexual embodiment
We live at a time that is supposed to be a “transgender tipping point, when we see national voices like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock, and yet we also read weekly about the epidemic of violence against trans* women of color. Trans* women of color seem to be locked in the popular imagination as either celebrities or victims, yet their authentic voices are seldom heard. Their representation within academic articles is no better, even as studies written by trans* men of color are finally getting more attention, very little is published from a Black or brown trans* feminist perspective. When we do hear from or about trans* women of color, it is often stories of imprisonment, or about their surgical status (or lack of any), or about a tragedy. We never hear about their joy or their strength and resilience in their own words. Perhaps most importantly, we don’t hear about their sense of gendered sexuality and pleasure. Navigating a landscape fraught with racism and injustice, how do trans* women of color find love and acceptance, learn to embrace their own bodies (or not). For pre-op, post-op and non-op trans* women of color, how do they navigate sexual and romantic intimacy? What ae the joys, pleasures, and challenges and—for those who undergo hormones and/or surgery —how does a changing body shift sexuality and/or intimacy? The book is intended to be a first-ever exploration of this topic.
Possible topic areas can include (but are not limited to: Negotiating intimacy/negotiating sex; Sexuality and HIV/AIDS; Embodiment in the age of icons like Janet and Laverne; Surgical vs non-surgical embodiment; Anti-Black stereotypes of trans* sex work; Fetishization of the Black transfem body; Reading feminine back into Black trans* studies, Paris Is Burning/Posing—Black transfem beyond the balls; Surviving racism in white communities & transphobia in communities of color; Dealing with sexual trauma; Black trans* women and the Black church, Black trans* fem and lesbian culture; Black trans* fem voice in feminism? Gay effeminacy vs trans* femininity in communities of color.
Academic credentials are not necessary. Please feel free to share questions or ideas in advance.
All submissions are welcome and will be considered. Maximum word count 7,000
Deadline for submissions is December 1st, 2021
Email submissions to: BridgeCalledMyBody@gmail.com
Late In Transition: Transgender People Aging Gracefully
Call for Submissions
Edited by
Trystan T. Cotten and Jayden Sampson
_________________________________________________________________
Trans people over 50 years old have few resources or guides to help us age gracefully and navigate the challenges of later life. Trans people confront some of the same questions of wellbeing, life and death as cisgender people, but we deal with additional challenges because of our non-normative bodies. Little research has been conducted on older trans people and even less has been published by trans folks themselves. In addition, support services are few and largely inaccessible for most of us. Lack of information and the high visibility of aging trans people underscores the pressing need for a collection of testimonies Late in Transition: Transgender People Aging Gracefully that address the myriad of issues of aging for trans people 50 (and over). We invite submissions that explore how our unique gender journeys shape our experiences of aging, and how aging affects our gender identities and expression.
We welcome submissions on trans lives 50 and over. Please note that we define trans in minimal terms as opting out of one’s assigned gender at birth. What course that takes is open, varied and unique to each individual. Factors of class, migrant status, religion, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender presentation, all shape trans people’s experiences of aging differently, and we encourage authors to elaborate on these distinctions in their testimonies.
Below is a list of issues and concerns that trans people over 50 commonly confront or experience. In addition to the list of issues of interest or concern, we have also provided 3 questions to help focus your writing. Please keep the list in mind as you use these 3 questions. The list is merely suggestive, not exhaustive. Pick 2 or 3 areas of special importance to you. Feel free to add questions and discuss areas of your life that aren’t listed.
Call for Submissions
Edited by
Trystan T. Cotten and Jayden Sampson
_________________________________________________________________
Trans people over 50 years old have few resources or guides to help us age gracefully and navigate the challenges of later life. Trans people confront some of the same questions of wellbeing, life and death as cisgender people, but we deal with additional challenges because of our non-normative bodies. Little research has been conducted on older trans people and even less has been published by trans folks themselves. In addition, support services are few and largely inaccessible for most of us. Lack of information and the high visibility of aging trans people underscores the pressing need for a collection of testimonies Late in Transition: Transgender People Aging Gracefully that address the myriad of issues of aging for trans people 50 (and over). We invite submissions that explore how our unique gender journeys shape our experiences of aging, and how aging affects our gender identities and expression.
We welcome submissions on trans lives 50 and over. Please note that we define trans in minimal terms as opting out of one’s assigned gender at birth. What course that takes is open, varied and unique to each individual. Factors of class, migrant status, religion, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender presentation, all shape trans people’s experiences of aging differently, and we encourage authors to elaborate on these distinctions in their testimonies.
Below is a list of issues and concerns that trans people over 50 commonly confront or experience. In addition to the list of issues of interest or concern, we have also provided 3 questions to help focus your writing. Please keep the list in mind as you use these 3 questions. The list is merely suggestive, not exhaustive. Pick 2 or 3 areas of special importance to you. Feel free to add questions and discuss areas of your life that aren’t listed.
- Concerns and Challenges: Do you have concerns or experience challenges in any of these areas (below)?
- Coping and Resilience: How are you dealing with these challenges and concerns?
- Health and healthcare (relating to both aging and being trans)
- Employment/Retirement
- Income and Wealth
- Romance/Friendship
- Emotional wellbeing
- Housing/Homelessness
- Community/Social Support
- HIV/AIDS
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s Independence
- Loss
- Elder care
- End-of-life decisions (will, DNR, etc.) and Death/dying