Wednesday, April 12, 2006
  WisCon programming
I just got my session details from the WisCon programming committee. If you haven't heard of WisCon -- it's about the coolest conference out there -- dedicated to feminist science fiction and feminism in general. It's held every Memorial Day in Madison, WI and attracts a lot of the coolest people!

Anyway, I'm on three panels, and the reading group I'm part of was accepted! Yay!

I'm really excited about the panels:

On Friday evening:

Pick one! Both/And in an Either/Or world
Bisexual, transgender, intersexed, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-national: those of us betwixt and between society's many great divides are often told to pick a side. What if we don't, won't, can't? And where does this connect to feminism and SF? Me, along with Victor Raymond, of Carl Brandon society fame, Aaron Lichtov, Lou Hoffman, and Ursula LeGuin. (!!)

Needless to say it's a bit daunting to think of sitting on a panel with someone like LeGuin, but it should mean a big audience, and as an American Muslim feminist science fiction writer, well, I think I have something meaningful to contribute to the panel.


Sunday afternoon:

Coming out
In what ways have you come out? SF reader, feminist, pagan, christian, jewish, muslim, agnostic, devout, democrat, republican, independant, green, hetero, homo, bi, monogamous, polyamorous, celibate, kinky, vanilla, writer, space babe memoribilia collector? Who have you come out to and how did it go? Who have you not come out to and why? What does it mean to be out? What does it mean to be in the closet? How do you bring up the subject? When do you bring up the subject? Are you an activist or do you wait for safe spaces? Speakers: me, Aaron Lichtov (once again), Vylar Kaftan, Lisa Cohen, and K Tempest Bradford.

I think this is a fascinating topic and am really looking forward to this particular panel. It was very difficult for me to come to an event like WisCon -- I was sure I would meet hostility from diehard feminists because of my headscarf (in actuality I encountered almost none, or I'm just perpetually oblivious...), and I dreaded people coming up to me and asking, "What character are you dressed up as." Myself? Or should I choose one of the Muslim characters from my own writing? But it's been great connecting to this community -- which gives ample food for thought.

Additionally, there are certain places where I'm not "out" as a woman imam because that would create problems. Of course, that in and of itself creates problems. Both personally, as I have always made it my policy to have complete transparency, and in terms of having to refrain from mentioning certain articles I've published, etc. Again, plenty here for food for thought.

Monday afternoon:
Was Margaret Mead full of s***?
Mead is famously quoted as saying "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Does this sentiment have any basis in reality? Many intelligent and well-informed people, including some of the luminaries who have attended WisCon in previous years, would have us believe that Mead's philosophy was the purest fantasy, and that no single voter or group of activists can bring about any kind of meaningful change. Let's invite a panelist or panelists who can debate and discuss this topic from the perspective of their own experience in the realm of public service, as well as one or more private citizens who believe that Mead was full of poppycock. Speakers: me, Pamela Sargent, Karen H. Moore, Suzanne Alles Blom

Again, I think I have a lot to say about this subject -- I'm one who firmly believes in the power of small groups. Just look at what a handful of women imams have achieved! It hasn't rippled yet to the wider Muslim world, but it's only a matter of time. I predict in twenty, thirty years, women imams will be as common as women rabbis.

Finally, I'm slated to do a reading with some excellent folks... Theresa Carter, Nora Jemison, Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, Nisi Shawl.

Our theme is Scarabs and Sandstorms: Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Middle East and Africa. If that isn't the coolest title, I don't know what is! I haven't figured out yet when the reading will be, but I'm really looking forward to hearing from the other writers. Now I just have to figure out what would be the best selection for me to read. Choices, choices!

May seems a long way away, but I know the time will fly!
 
Comments: Post a Comment



<< Home

My Photo
Name:
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Progressive Muslim, feminist, mom, writer, mystic, lover of the universe and Doug Schmidt, cellist, theologian and imam.


What I'm reading now



Cane River
An interesting exploration of the gradual whiting of a family through slavery to modern days.

To see an archive of all the books I've read (well the ones I've read and review since I started the blog) with comments, please click here

Causes Worth Supporting

This is just a short list -- a few of my favorites.

English Language Islamic Fiction. We need more of it. Lots more.
Pay a Teacher's Salary in Afghanistan. The Hunger site actually has a lot of worthwhile programs. You can find them all here .
Muslims for Progressive Values. My organization. We can always use donations, of time or money!
Human Rights Campaign for the glbt community
National Religious Campaign Against Torture
The ACLU I'm a card carrying member. Hope you'll become one too.
MoveOn.org. The organization that has done the most, as far as I can tell, to pull the countries progressive side together.
Network of Spiritual Progressives. Working to reclaim religion and morality for the religious left.

Blogs Worth Reading

Wanda Campbell also known as Nochipa A very gifted poet and a gentle, compassionate soul. Nochipa and I are on the same page on sooooo many things
Writeous Sister Aminah Hernandez, she's got some excellent latino pieces and always has good writing info on her blog.
Sister Scorpion aka Leila Montour - Leila is a fount of energy, quirky humor, and bad attitude. She's also a talented poet.
Muhajabah Very interesting commentary here. I don't always agree with her, but her pieces are always thought-provoking.
Georgie Dowdell Georgie is a great writer and a good friend.
Louise Marley Another great writer. I think Louise is one of the best sf writers exploring faith themes.
Ink in My Coffee Devon Ellington (who has numerous aliases) who is also the editor of Circadian Poems. A truly inspiring woman with a seemingly endless supply of energy.
Ethnically Incorrect With a name like that, isn't a given I'm going to enjoy this writer?
Freedom from the Mundane Colin Galbraith, another excellent writer, from Scotland.
The Scruffy Dog Review This is a new e-zine with an ecclectic mix of fiction, poetry, and non-fic, some really enjoyable pieces here.
Ramblings of a Suburban Soccer Mom Lara, another gentle soul, very thoughtful.
Circadian Poems A journal of poetry, new stuff up all the time.
Ye Olde Inkwell Michelle writes romance and is one of my writing buddies.
Muhammad Michael Knight The original punk Muslim writer. Like him or love him, Mike is always coming up with the unexpected.

Recent Posts
Archives

October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
April 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
July 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
July 2013


Categories