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Apologies for cross postings This is a joint call for papers for the Association of American Geographers Conference in Denver and for an edited collection entitled 'Sexy Spaces: Theory, Politics and Practices in Contemporary Geographies of Sexualities'. We envisage the conference session feeding into, but not exclusively forming, this project. An outline of the book project is sketched out below and conference abstracts should fit broadly within this framework. We welcome abstracts for either/both projects. The deadline for conference abstracts of no more than 200 words is the 10th of October and they should be sent, by email preferably, to Kath Browne ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ), Tiffany Muller ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ) or Gavin Brown ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ). Please send expressions of interest for the book to Kath Browne ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ), Gavin Brown ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ) or Jason Lim ([log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> ) by December 1st 2004. These should be no more than 300 words and should outline the content of your proposed contribution. We look forward to hearing from interested parties, please pass this message onto all that may be interested Kath Browne, Gavin Brown, Jason Lim (and Tiffany Muller) Sexy Spaces: Theory, Politics and Practices in Contemporary Geographies of Sexualities Edited by Gavin Brown, Kath Browne and Jason Lim The past decade or so has witnessed a proliferation and diversification of writings on sexualities, space and place. However, despite the publication of some very thought provoking collections on specific themes within geographies of sexualities, there has not been a recent text that explores and discusses the theoretical, empirical, and political developments across the breadth of geographies of sexualities. This conference session/collection seeks to address this lacuna in two ways. Firstly, it will offer a variety of timely interventions that will reflect on the emergence and growth of geographies of sexualities. Secondly, it will explore contemporary research and offer future 'directions' for research, political action and theoretical examinations. At present, geographies of sexualities not only explore lesbian, gay and bisexual identities, embodiments, lifestyles and expressions, but they also seek to queer heteronormativity and other modes of sexualised power relations. This book/conference session will incorporate these varied yet interrelated theoretical, empirical and political agendas. In reflecting and intervening in current theoretical debates, as well as examining contemporary issues and historical manifestations of sexualities, the book will offer insights into 'desire' and non-heterosexual spatialities, and will also seek to move understandings of sexualities beyond these tropes. Central to the book will be a consideration of diverse modes of power/regulation including institutionalisation, reproduction of practice, performativity, normalising spatialities, and (re)forming structures. This consideration of power relations will run throughout the book/conference session, and will run in relation to both theoretical and empirical work. We will encourage contributors to move beyond the specific substantive focus of their work in order to address the wider body of theory and praxis. In this way, the authors will be able to reflect on current debates or to offer interventions into the theory and praxis of sexualities, space and place. Recently, there has been a recognition of the imbrication of multiple social differences, for example, within queer of colour critique, and also with an exciting body of literature within queer theory exploring the racialisation of the oedipal sexualised body. This book will include discussions of sexualities as they intersect with other social differences, addressing capitalist processes, ableist discourses, and the gendering and racialisation of sexualised bodies. Moreover, whilst current geographies of sexualities are heterogeneous in terms of focus, epistemology and praxis, they continue to be located within Anglo-American and Australian contexts. We actively seek to include contributions that develop on the burgeoning work beyond these boundaries. Contributions could address but are not limited to: * Queer theory and geography (including both sexualities and gender transgressions) * Queering geographic thought, practice and praxis * Queer methodologies * Sexualities and teaching; queering geographic pedagogy; * Sociological and/or cultural approaches to geographies of sexualities * Materialist and materialist feminist approaches to geographies of sexualities * Lesbian feminist approaches to geographies of sexualities * Heteronormativity, homonormativity, heterosexism, homophobia * Everyday sexualities and spatialities; mundane queer and/or sexualised spaces; is there a queer quotidian? * Contemporary issues in sexualities * Historico-geographical explorations of sexualities * Development, progression and queer politics * How emancipatory is queer? * Anti-queer, challenging the fuzziness- what escapes queer? * Producing or creating the Other * Transnational perspectives on sexualities * Capitalism, capital and sexualised/queer class fractions (e.g. Gays and geeks in the 'creative class') * Ableist discourses; queering (dis)ability studies; the incorporation of sexuality and gender play within geographies of health. * The racialisation of heteronormative/non-heterosexual bodies, spaces, identities; queer of colour critique. * Queer play- where is the fun? Dr. Kath Browne, Division of Geography, The School of the Environment, University of Brighton, Cockcroft Building, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, England. Tel: +44 (0) 1273 642377 Email: [log in to unmask]