CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:

ARTICLES, PERSONAL NARRATIVES,
FICTION, POETRY DRAWINGS, PHOTOS, ART


We are seeking contributions from:

ABOUT THE BOOK:

trans/FAGs, an anthology of art and writing by, about, and for gay-male-identified FTMs, has been alongtime dream of Julian Michaels (editor). Co-editor Michael Hernandez has also wanted to work on a project like this for some time. With your help they can make it a reality.

Gay-identified FTMs tend to have very low visibility: most attention goes to MTFs, then to straight FTMs, then, if at all, to us; therefore our brothers out there, especially in the Flyover, are still trying to figure out what they are, confused because 'I don't like girls, I like boys, but not as a girl, I see myself as a boy too.' This book is meant to tear the cloak of invisibility and break the silence.

Since we are the focus of the book the goal is to create a finished product which contains the primary voice of the first two groups identified above and a limited voice from gay men and SO's.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

We are looking for biography/memoir, fiction, poetry, drama, song, cartoon, drawing, collage, photography, fiber art, sculpture, or any other expressive art form you can think of! The tone can be serious, humorous, surreal, erotic, etc.

Suggested word length for articles and fiction is 750 - 5,000 words. Please contact us first about longer submissions. Reprints from previous publications considered, although original pieces preferred. All manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced and include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for return of submission. They can also be transmitted to us via e-mail or submitted on disk.

Photographs should be black and white and MUST be accompanied by model releases. The title of the photograph and your name, address and telephone number should be labeled on the back of EACH photo and a SASE provided for the return of the photographs.

Please don't send us one-of-a-kind artworks. Send photos, slides, or photocopies for us to evaluate first. If you need these returned, include a SASE.

Submissions that do not include an SASE will NOT be returned!

You don't need to wait until you have finished work to send to get in touch. If you have an idea for in mind, we would be happy to work with you from planning stage to develop your vision. Both of us are writers (fiction and non) and Julian is an artist and photographer.

SUBMISSIONS AND/OR QUERIES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Queries may be sent to Julian Msjulian @aol.com or to Michaellbear@crl.com ). Please contact Julian to get a snail mail address for submissions that can't be electronically submitted.

DEADLINE: HALLOWEEN/SAMHAIN


POSSIBLE TOPICS:

The book is certainly not limited to this list and we're eager to see other suggestions and topics. LET YOUR IMAGINATION BE FREE!

GOALS:

We DO want to see us regard this as a chance to forge bonds with each other as brothers, to create a supportive community.

We DO want us to respect each other and treat each other with empathy and consideration even when we disagree.

We DO want diversity.

We DO want us to have fun, be creative, care more about self-expression and growth than the end product. Concentrate on the process and let the beautiful product emerge on its own. Respect the wisdom that allows the flower to bloom without the slightest effort because that is its nature.

We DO want us to deal with the spiritual and imaginal dimensions of our condition, such as personal mythology, karma, being 'two-spirited.'

We DO want to break taboos. Wild, erotic, exotic is good. If you want to write about the glory hole circuit in Timbuktu, go for it. Let's talk about sex.

We DON'T want the focus of THIS book to be "the FTM phenomenon as part of the butch lesbian community". The goal here is to have a book which celebrates being a trans/FAG as a separate and unique group with our own issues and concerns as opposed to an variant or extension of another community.

We DON'T want to include articles by observers of our scene such as academics and treatment providers. This doesn't mean our articles can't cite academic studies, positively or critically, that have meaning for us.

We DON'T want articles solely dealing in disembodied, intellectualized abstractions such as "Is gender real or a construct?" If how YOU answer that question affects how you feel about yourself and how you live your daily life, write about it, but don't forget to personalize it.

We DON'T want to focus on political rants. If being a political activist is part of your life, write about it, but don't forget to personalize it. For example we don't want "Employment Discrimination Against The Transgendered". We DO WANT "How I got canned when I told my boss I was transsexual".

We DON'T want someone to feel intimidated to write or create something because s/he isn't a professional published writer or a professional artist who's been shown in galleries. Each of our stories is important and deserves to be heard.

AUDIENCE:

The audience we are hoping the book will first address are the subjects of the book -- transgendered gay men (i.e. gay FTMs). Secondly, we would like to interest transgendered men, gay men, women questioning or in search of their identity and gender roles. Lastly, we would like this to educate those interested in our communities professionally such as academics and health care providers. It's a fascinating topic from anthropological, sociological, psychological and spiritual viewpoints. Researchers in the fields of gender and sexuality will need to read and reference the book in their work since there is little in the literature about us as yet.

DEDICATION:

To Louis G. Sullivan (1951-1991), who single-handedly made the world safe for gay FTMs; we're all his sons in spirit; to other pioneers, known and unknown, who dealt with being FTMs in their own times and societies; to all of US, those who've discovered our identities and those still searching.

MEETING:

We hope to organize a formal (tuxedos required! :)) brainstorming session at the FTM conference in San Franciso during the weekend of August 19th and 20th when hopefully a majority of us can together in person. We will anounce the date time and location at the conference. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Email to: Julian Msjulian @aol.com
Michael lbear@crl.com


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