CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS TO BOOK ON TRANS EXPERIENCES
Trans Pilipinas will be the first collection of writings and creative works by transgender and gender-diverse Filipinos
For the longest time, there has been a lack of transgender person-focused writing in the Philippines. Recent years have seen a better visibility of trans and gender-diverse Filipinos in society, as well as pop culture and politics. What’s palpably missing in the discourse is the transgender persons’ own voices, telling their own stories. Trans Pilipinas: An Anthology by Trans and Gender Diverse Filipinos aims to fill that gap.
The book will be the first collection of writings and creative works by transgender and gender-diverse Filipinos. This anthology features short stories, personal reflections, poetry, and essays written by trans people from around the country, reflecting on what it means to be trans in the Philippine context. As the first of its kind in the country, this book highlights reflections on the Filipino trans community’s diverse experiences — with their families, friends and allies, their work and other aspects of their lives. The project also aims to show how their experiences intersect with other aspects of their identity like class, religion, ethnicity, ability, profession and education. For this anthology, Filipino trans and genderdiverse community members are invited to share their writings, essays, poems, stories
(fiction or non-fiction) and artwork.
The project also aims to show how their experiences intersect with other aspects of their identity like class, religions, ethnicity, ability, profession and education.
Themes for this book include, but are not limited to feminism and the trans/gender-diverse experience; politics and political participation, social movements, and activism; stories of survival and resilience against gender-based violence and discrimination; spirituality and faith; health, sports and access to public spaces and services, including stories about transition; representations of queerness in the media, cinema, television and the net; dating, romance and sexuality; stories about family and coming out; and employment and work.
Submissions must be from 2,500 to 5,000 words in any language, but with translations in English or Filipino are preferred. Authors should also send a short, 150-word biography. The deadline is 31 March. For submissions email transpilipinas.book@gmail.com.
The anthology’s editorial board includes Dr. Brenda Alegre, who teaches in the Gender Studies program of the University of Hong Kong and is on the executive board of ILGA Asia and the Society of Transsexual Women of the Philippines (STRAP); Dr. Mikee Inton-Campbell, who is also on the board of STRAP and serves on the International Trans Fund as part of the grant making panel; and Dr. Jaya Jacobo, who teaches at the Ateneo de Manila University and works for the Philippine project of the GlobalGRACE Gender and Cultures of Equality program at the University of the Philippines.