In studies of African American life and culture, migration and geographical spaces have been used to explore the differences and distinctions within Black life. In each case—whether it is the music of jazz and hip-hop, language and dialect, literature and fiction, or the visual art—geography shapes and changes the aesthetics and elements used to represent Black identity and culture across the U.S. Yet, there are few collections that have explored the how these geographical factors produce different sexual cultures, communities, and identities amongst Black people. This anthology seeks to show how Black lesbians in the south have created their own identities, identity politics, and culture to represent their same-gender loving and same-sex desires. Our goal with this collection is to document and preserve those manifestations.

We invite established and emerging scholars, non-affiliated intellectuals, activists, and creative writers who are Black, lesbian/bi/trans/queer –identified, and southern (born, bred and/or immigrant in US South) to write up to 2500 words (essay, fiction, nonfiction, drama, or interview) or up to 5 poems relevant to these ideas.

1. DEADLINES: Abstract (for essays and interviews only) due JUNE 30, 2008 and, once approved, final draft due DEC 1st, 2008. All others due by DEC 1st, 2008.
2. Submit your work by email, as an attachment in MS word to Lmonda@juno.com and marlonRmoore@gmail.com
3. Include your name, mailing address, email address, and a bio WITHIN the .doc file with your piece, as submissions will be separated from emails to be read.

Though we are interested in the following broadly construed topics, we will consider others not listed:

* Marriage/civil unions/adoption/child rearing/family structures
* southern identities and genders within lesbian communities
* regional politics and lesbian culture
* migration(s) to the south/north
* southern lesbian history/ political figures (regional and local)
* being southern and queer on university campuses
* lesbians in HBCUs
* impact/intersections of spirituality/religiosity, gender and queerness
* queer(ing) representations of southern culture in film, lit and music
* place, space and landscapes in southern lesbian experience or representations
* butch/femme aesthetic and beyond the binary
* inter-racial relationships
* history of slavery and lesbian culture
* lesbian clubs, parties, circuits and production companies
* social activities
* political groups

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