CFP: Queer Fertility Journeys (no deadline; collection)
Call for Papers - Queer Fertility Journeys
As my partner and I embarked upon our journey of trying to become =
parents, I devoured every last bit of information that examines and =
explores LGBT families, pregnancy and adoption. Although there are now =
some wonderful books on the market about these topics, I was left =
hungering for something different. I wanted to read about and find =
comfort and inspiration in others' experiences about the fertility =
journey itself - the time before we become queer families, when we are =
still making plans and dreaming our families into existence.=20
The time between deciding to grow our families and actually becoming =
parents is a time fraught with complicated emotions and experiences - it =
can be simultaneously exhilarating, sorrowful, anxiety-producing, =
isolating and enriching - it can shift our conceptualizations of who we =
are, how we think about ourselves and the world around us. Yet, in our =
haste become parents, I believe that we often ignore the significance of =
this very "fertile" time in our lives.=20
To this end, I am putting out a call for proposals for essays about =
people's experiences with the queer fertility journey. It is my hope =
that these submissions will eventually be compiled into an edited =
anthology for publication (there is of course, no guarantee for this). =
Essays may be academic, personal stories and/or both, but all must be =
written for a general reading audience.=20
There is of course, no one "fertility journey" for lesbians, gay men, =
bisexual and transgendered people. It is my hope that this anthology =
will create a pastiche of diverse queer experiences, and help to fill in =
the gaps for others in our communit(ies) who hunger for the same kinds =
of information that I have sought.=20
a.. How does this time of "waiting" to become parents impact us?
b.. How does our identity shift in the time between deciding to try to =
create a family and actually becoming parents?
c.. How has the fertility journey shifted our relationships with =
partners, family, the world around us?
d.. How have we experienced and been impacted by homophobia and =
discrimination?
e.. How are our choices about how to become parents constrained by our =
gender orientation, sexual orientation, relationship status, =
socio-economic status?
f.. What are the ups and downs of deciding how to become parents =
(using known/unknown donors, surrogates, adoption, fostering)?=20
g.. How do we as queer people navigate finding donors and surrogates =
and finding our way through adoption and foster care systems?
h.. In the case of donor insemination (or IVF), how does the journey =
differently impact upon carrying and non-carrying partners?
i.. How does the experience of miscarriage impact queer people and =
might this be different than how straight people experience miscarriage? =
(For example, how are gay men who use a surrogate impacted if their =
surrogate miscarries?)
j.. What are the experiences of lesbians who are struggling with =
infertility?
The above questions are meant as examples of possible angles of inquiry. =
I welcome submissions on any and all topics relating to this period in =
the queer fertility journey.=20
I look forward to receiving and reading your submissions. Those whose =
proposals are accepted will be invited to write and submit essays for =
consideration for publication.
Along with your submissions, please include a separate piece of paper =
with your contact information, including email.
Please send proposals for essays to:
Email: tpinterics_at_hotmail.com
Or to:
Natasha Pinterics
14-6354 Edinburgh St
Halifax, NS
B3L 1W3
Canada
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Received on Sun Nov 27 2005 - 16:43:58 EST