Firebrand Burns On!

Conference to Celebrate Firebrand Books

Ithaca College

April 18-19, 2025

From 1984 to 2000 editor Nancy Bereano working out of a tiny office in Ithaca, New York published 104 books, including some of the most influential LGBTQIA+ titles ever produced.  This two-day conference celebrates the achievements and legacy of Firebrand Books.  For a complete overview of Firebrand publications see https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM07670.html. We invite papers on a variety of topics:

Discussions of the work of Firebrand authors, including:

Audre Lorde, Leslie Feinberg, Alison Bechtel, Dorothy Allison, Ricki Wilchins, Lesléa Newman, Mab Segrest, Judith Katz, Cheryl Clarke, Ruthann Robson, Minnie Bruce Pratt and Jewell Gomez, and many others.

Discussions of the historical/Ideological moments that Firebrand Books responded to and created.  Topics could include:

Independent Feminist Presses, Lesbian and Queer Voices in Multiple Media, Homophobia and Transphobia in the 1980s-2000, The Bechdel Test, Peace Movement, Anti-Gay Violence, Assassination of Harvey Milk, Jonestown Massacre, Transgender Representation.

Discussions of how the topics introduced in Firebrand Books are represented today.  Possible topics:

Coming of Age Stories; Queer Comics; Queer and Lesbian Indigenous Identities; Lesbians of Color; Jewish Identity and Lesbianism; Drug Addiction; Surviving Violence; Queer Community; Queerness and Class; Discovering Heritage; Lesbian Vampires of Color; Lesbian Motherhood; Queer Erotica, Female Masculinity; Transgender Lives; Queerness and Religion; Intersections between National and Gender identities; Food; Love; Sex.

We also welcome non-traditional elements, including:

Documentaries on Firebrand Books, authors or their work; Musical and visual art celebrating Firebrand Works and Authors; Staged readings from Firebrand Books; Personal essays about the impact of Firebrand texts and authors.  Group performances and presentations are welcome.

Please send queries about non-traditional elements and 200-300 word abstracts for conference papers to Katharine Kittredge at kkittredge@ithaca.edu.  Deadline is January 1, 2025.