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Call for Papers: Homosexualities, Homophobias, and Heteronormativities in the Caribbean
Friday, 24th March 2017 at the Centre for Integrated Caribbean Research, ILAS, University of London
Discussions concerning sexual rights movements and sexual minorities in the Caribbean are timely given that 11 Caribbean countries continue to have anti-sodomy laws bringing sentences of 25 years in some cases (such as Belize), violence towards members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community continue to be widespread and widely reported in the media, and LGBTQ people apply in increasing numbers for asylum to the United States, Canada, and Europe. Moreover, relationships between former colonisers and former colonies continue to colour the agenda and we encourage contributors to consider these aspects in their contributions. However, while medias (both within and outside of the region) consider these issues, they also rarely critically engage with the complementary reification of the heteronormative which occurs when studies focus solely on 'Other' sexualities.
We invite papers for a one-day workshop on 'Homosexualities, Homophobias, and Heteronormativities in the Caribbean.' The aim of the workshop is to foster inter-disciplinary discussion concerning sexualities in the Caribbean and attend to issues that arise during research and analysis. It may attend to LGBTQ movements, homosexualities, homophobias, and also heteronormativities. We also encourage contributors to embed discussions of sexualities within wider contexts, and therefore help to produce an impression of the spaces they occupy within people's wider lives. Contributions are encouraged from all different disciplines which engage with an area of the Caribbean and it is our intention to include presentations dealing with as many linguistic areas as possible.
The workshop will follow a lecture delivered by Professor David Murray (York University, Toronto) on Thursday 23rd March who has published significant work studying homophobias in the Caribbean and on Caribbean sexual orientation and gender identity refugees. Prof. Murray's work draws together research conducted in the French Caribbean, the British Caribbean, and the Canadian refugee apparatus to present a unique perspective onto sexualities in the region.
Two further academics will join Prof. Murray at the workshop in order to foster and facilitate debate. Dr Keon West is a Lecturer in psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London. Dr West has worked on gay rights support and the persistence of homophobia in Jamaica. He won the Michele Alexander Award in recognition of his research and for his professional service in helping to improve understandings of anti-gay prejudice. He has worked to make practical improvements to the lives of LGBTQ people in the Caribbean. Joining Prof. Murray and Dr West will be Dr Maria López. Dr Lopez is a Senior Lecturer in sociology and cultural studies at London Metropolitan University, and an Associate Fellow at ILAS. Her work has looked at the construction of sexual narratives in Cuba and on the emergence of homophobia in the Hispanic Caribbean.
We invite postgraduate, early career, and more established researchers to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words, to be submitted by 19th January to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
Best,
William
William Tantam
Postdoctoral Fellow
Centre for Integrated Caribbean Research
Institute of Latin American Studies
School of Advanced Study, University of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London WC1E 7HU
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